The 108 emergency service, which is widely acknowledged for its swift service, has now hit the news for wrong reasons.
The members of employees’ welfare association have complained to the Collector that the bike ambulance facility, which was launched here on August 28, 2016 by none other than the Collector, K. Veera Raghava Rao, was abruptly stopped three months back for reasons unknown.
According to the employees’ association State general secretary S. Ulaganathan, the objective of introducing bike ambulance was to reach those in need of immediate medical attention in narrow lanes as quickly as possible and provide them first aid.
In cases of snake bite reported from dwellings situated on the Vaigai riverside areas and freak accidents reported in congested locations, the bike ambulance was able to reach early and provide initial treatment without any delay in the golden hour.
Subsequently, the victims were rushed to hospitals for further treatment, he also added.
Two bike ambulances, which were launched then, remained idle. While according to the employees, one bike (bearing registration number TN-02 WG 2000) was lying in a private two-wheeler workshop, the second vehicle (TN 02 LG 2000) was in an abandoned state in a fire service station in the city.
The employees blamed GVK EMRI officials for not taking any effective steps to continue the service. A novel initiative for which the State government had earmarked funds was going waste, they said, and demanded a thorough probe into the suspension of the facility.
When contacted, a senior official in GVK EMRI, Chennai, said that he would enquire about the issue.
