Tahsildar conducts ‘string operation’, exposes callousness of ambulance staff

TUMAKUR: Koratagere Tahsildar Nahida Zam Zam, who conducted a sting operation, exposed the insensitive behaviour of the ambulance staff following several complaints from citizens, on Sunday.

On Saturday morning, there was no ambulance service available to take injured people to the hospital after a leopard attacked two boys who were milking cows inside a cowshed at Irakasandra Colony. The residents of the colony were outraged by the lack of ambulance services. Following this incident, tahsildar conducted a sting operation herself to understand the gravity of the problem.

Koratagere Tahsildar Nahida Zam Zam visited the taluk hospital on Sunday.

On Saturday evening, the tahsildar visited the taluk hospital and heard the problems of the patients. During a sting operation, she called an ambulance claiming to be ‘Ramakka’ and informed the driver that there was an accident at Vadagere Cross and an ambulance was urgently needed. The call was then transferred to the ambulance staff. ‘Ramakka’ and ambulance staff had an eight-minute conversation about the incident.

The ambulance staffer said,” The ambulance is near Tovinakere and by the time it reaches the spot, it will take about an hour. Either wait till then or send them to hospital by private vehicles”.

Locals said that it takes around 15 to 20 minutes to reach Koratagere town from Tovinakere, but the ambulance reached the spot one hour after the request was made. Tahsildar Naheeda complained to the Deputy Commissioner and District Health Officer about the pathetic ambulance services.

Koratagere Tahsildar Nahida Zam Zam.

“I was informed about the lack of service, and to double-check, I did a sting operation to understand the problem. Around 5 pm, I called 108, and until 5.08 pm they talked to me seeking information about the incident. They came after one hour, and I immediately called the DHO and complained about the poor ambulance service. He informed me that he had been notified about it by other people and government officials, and he is looking into that matter. There are three ambulance in Koratagere, but people have not been recruited for the service, which creates problems for citizens”, said the officer.