Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
The impact of petrol-diesel shortages has gone beyond ordinary citizens and transporters, revealing a distressing incident that struck at the heart of human compassion. A driver transporting a deceased body in an ambulance had to roam from pump to pump in search of fuel.
Ambulance driver Vicky Bansode said that while carrying a body through the Ghati on Wednesday night, he ran low on fuel and first went to the Delhi Gate pump, but no fuel was available. He then tried the Mahavir Chowk and the Railway Station pumps, all in vain. Finally, fuel was obtained at the Kanchanwadi pump, but though he requested ₹1,000 worth, he received only ₹500. Nearly 1.5 hours were spent locating fuel, Bansode stated.
Ambulances Struggle Amid Traffic: Long queues formed at city pumps since Thursday morning. Ambulance drivers reported struggling to move forward in the crowd to refuel. Normally, ambulances with patients are given priority, but most drivers, even when not carrying patients, have to navigate through traffic to access fuel, making the task extremely challenging.
Call for Separate Arrangements: Drivers are demanding separate lanes or priority systems for ambulances and other emergency services at pumps in the coming days. Otherwise, the fuel shortage could severely affect the efficiency of emergency services, they warned.