Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 7: An attempt was made to transfer four suspected coronavirus patients who had come in an ambulance from Mangaluru to near Hejamady check post. They were sent back to Mangaluru by the police manning the check post. Reportedly, an attempt had been made near the check post to shift the patients to another ambulance, which aroused the suspicion of the policemen.

The incident happened on the night of May 5. The ambulance driver who got his vehicle registration number registered at the check post and provided other papers, proceeded towards Udupi. However, after covering about 100 metres from the check post, all the patients were shifted to another ambulance that was waiting there. Check post staff Arun Kumar, who noticed this strange activity, questioned the concerned at which the ambulance staff reportedly wanted to see his identity card. This gave rise to friction between the check post staff and the ambulance personnel and the check post staff asked them to produce the order issued by the district deputy commissioner.

Padubidri police sub-inspector Subbanna, reached the spot that time and looked into the issue. He asked the ambulance to go back to Mangaluru as the ambulance staff did not possess any authorization papers. The patients were shifted back to the previous ambulance and sent back.

It is said that the patients belong to Udupi district and they had completed their quarantine period at Mangaluru. They reportedly were going to a hospital at Udyavar for quarantine. It is said that ambulances from Dakshina Kannada come to Udupi only in emergency cases. In the said case, the people had completed their quarantine period and were shifted to another ambulance for taking them to Udyavar. The people had all papers needed in their possession, but they could not be shifted to the ambulance bound for Udyavar as locals intervened and objected, say ambulance drivers.