108 comes to a standstill

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ‘108’ ambulance service came to a standstill on Tuesday following a lightning strike launched by the ambulance drivers and EMTs(Emergency medical technicians). The drivers and EMTs resorted to the strike after A T George MLA and a group of local people allegedly manhandled a 108 ambulance driver and a male nurse in front of the Taluk Hospital, Parassala, on Monday night. The injured driver, Naushad, and nurse, Ratheesh, have been admitted to the General Hospital here. According to the police, an acquaintance of A T George was brought to the Taluk Hospital on Monday night. The person had been injured in an accident and he fell unconscious in the hospital. When the doctors referred the injured person to the Medical College Hospital, George, who was present at the Taluk Hospital, sought the service of the 108 ambulance that was stationed there.  However, Noushad, the driver of the ambulance, told the MLA that the vehicle was down due to a mechanical hassle and that the ambulance cannot be operated. One of the local people reportedly questioned the driver, which resulted in a verbal spat. Later, the spat turned violent and the driver and the male nurse were reportedly assaulted. The complaint filed by Noushad and Ratheesh said that they were chased down and beaten up by the MLA and a group numbering around ten men. According to the driver and EMT, the MLA refused to listen to them even when they told him that they would arrange another ambulance from Neyyattinkara. The MLA suddenly started beating them along with the other men, the complaint said.  The MLA was unavailable for comment on the issue. The police have registered a case against George and ten other men on the charge of a collective assault on Noushad and Ratheesh. Already, five men have been identified, the police said. On Tuesday, the 108 ambulance drivers boycotted their service in protest against the assault and took out a march from General Hospital to the  Secretariat. The drivers also staged a dharna in front of Secretariat, from where they were arrested. The drivers were later released by the police.