Confronted with the problem of conventional ambulances being unable to navigate by means of the dense visitors of Ganeshotsav, Anil Valiv, Regional Transport Officer (RTO) of Borivali, Mumbai, conceptualised a motorcycle ambulance to make sure swift medical intervention by means of densely populated processions.
The bike ambulance service, initiated in 2014 has, since, turn into an integral part of medical help in the course of the pageant and Palkhi processions within the metropolis.
“In 2014, after becoming a member of the Pune workplace, I organised a highway security and helmet consciousness rally. I related with bikers like Baljeet Singh, Kalyanaraman Venkatesan, and Sangram Dhekar. Through the rally, I discovered from a physician pal in regards to the issue of transferring four-wheeler ambulances throughout Ganesh Visarjan because of visitors. This led us to develop the idea of a motorcycle ambulance, the place bikers would transport medical doctors or medical personnel to succeed in sufferers shortly,” mentioned Valiv. He added that the service goals to “bridge the hole between an incident and the arrival of a four-wheeler ambulance.”
Kalyanaraman Vankatesan, Founding father of Mission Safer Roads and an IT skilled, says, “We’ve been doing this service for over 10 years, serving throughout Palki procession. It’s a voluntary service the place bikers come collectively to supply group service, promote highway security, and bridge the hole between the incident and the ambulance reaching the spot.”
The service is inclusive, permitting anybody with a motorcycle to take part, no matter the kind of car they personal. “It’s about giving again to society, not simply in regards to the car,” says Venkatesan. He additionally emphasised the significance of highway security consciousness, together with carrying helmets and giving option to ambulances.
Baljeet Singh, a senior member of the founding committee, mirrored on the evolution of the service over time, he says “We began the bike ambulance 10 years again with Valiv. Initially, we had many volunteers, however now only some of us can proceed. We offer medical help in the course of the Ganesh pageant and Palkhi processions, the place it’s exhausting to succeed in folks in want because of the crowd. Our objective is to get them to a physician in the course of the golden hour.”
The bike ambulances are simply identifiable, marked with “ambulance” and “emergency” stickers, making certain that they’re acknowledged by the general public as automobiles on pressing responsibility. “The satisfaction of saving lives is unmatched,” says Singh.
Click here to affix Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated checklist of our tales