In Karnataka, tahsildar's sting operation finds ambulance services poor

TUMAKURU: Following complaints from relatives of victims of a leopard attack in Koratagere taluk in Tumakuru district, a tahsildar did a sting operation to know the state of affairs, only to find that the services were "poor".
On Sunday, Koratagere tahslidar Nahida Zam Zam dialled 108, introduced herself as 'Ramakka' and said that a person had met with an accident near Vaddagere Cross in Koratagere and she needed an ambulance to shift the person to the hospital.The state team received the call and alerted the nearest ambulance.
"The response from the ambulance staff was not good and they asked me if I can wait for one hour for the ambulance as it had to come from Thovinakere, about 18km from Koratagere," Nahida told TOI. Nahida told the ambulance staff that it would take hardly 20 minutes to reach the spot as the distance was only 18km and she had to shift the patient who was in a serious condition due to excessive bleeding. While she called the ambulance at 5.02pm, the vehicle arrived only around 5.58pm. "The state team was quick but the response was very poor from the emergency medical technician, who will be in the ambulance along with the pilot," the tahsildar said.
She said she has complained to the district health officer and the 108 emergency management executive about the state of affairs.
The Tumakuru DC, meanwhile, has asked the DHO to submit a report on the availability of 108 staff and vehicles in all 10 taluks of the district.