Pune: Ambulance ferrying 12 Covid-19 patients turns on side, 4 hurt

PUNE: Four Covid-19 patients suffered minor injuries on Monday, after the ambulance they were travelling in turned on its side on the Katraj-Dehu Road bypass in Bavdhan.
There were eight other positive patients in the ambulance as well.
Soon after the accident, the patients assaulted the ambulance driver Manoj Londhe, who suffered injuries on his hands, an officer from Hinjewadi police said.
All the 12 patients were sent to a Covid-19 treatment facility in Lavale in another ambulance, which was provided by corporator Kiran Dagade Patil.
“We have admitted all the 12 patients. Four of them suffered minor bruises,” a health official from the facility said. The corporator told TOI there were 12 patients in the ambulance from different slums in Kothrud.
“The ambulance was on its way to a treatment facility in Balewadi. When it reached near HEMRL around 3pm, the driver applied sudden brakes in an attempt to avoid dashing against a motorcycle. The ambulance then turned on its side and stopped after skidding for a distance,” he said, adding that he sent an ambulance to the spot after he was informed of the incident. The patients were then sent to Lavale, he said.
An officer from the Hinjewadi police said the ambulance was driven by a PMPML driver.
“The administration has acquired private ambulances to shift Covid-19 patients to the treatment facilities. The PMPML drivers have been deployed for these ambulances,” he said.