Assam Gets A River Ambulance Service

Pulse

oi-Staff

Monday, November 23, 2009, 10:50

The people of Manjuli islanders in Assam often fail to access prompt medical facilities due to lack of adequate transportation, The ferry service is the only means of transportation in the area.

Intended to serve the medical needs of the people, the Assam Government recently introduced a river ambulance service in the form of a speedboat. It is well equipped with the life saving devices. It is the first of its kind of public service scheme.

The boat ambulance was commissioned recently at Kamalabari, Majuli in Assam. The event marked the completion of one year of the popular 108 emergency ambulance response service Mrityunjoy in the State.

The speedboats were donated by Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), one of the major oil producing companies in Assam. The speed boats brought from Kerala for Rs. 150,000 is made of fiberglass and has arrangements for oxygen, stretchers, saline drips and medical experts. Each boat can accommodate about 40 passenger at a time. The river can now be crossed in 20-25 minutes, which otherwise take little more than an hour.

It is hoped that these boats will prove to be the most important life savers in Assam.