A good samaritan on wheels

An ex-serviceman, Sridharan, runs an ambulance service for dead and injured

When he was pushed from pillar to post in order to take his father’s body from the Manapparai hospital to his home in May 1991, the young serviceman would not have imagined that the ordeal he had just gone through would turn into a God-given opportunity for him to start an ambulance service for the dead victims or the injured in road and train accidents.

Having retired from the army in 1998, N. Sridharan, a native of Manapparai, recalls how he had to part with a huge sum to transport the body of his father. At the moment, he resolved to start an ambulance service in his home town soon after his retirement, he says.

The ex-serviceman invested all his retirment benefits towards purchasing an ambulance. Soon, there was no turning back.

Going down memory lane, he says: “My first experience transporting a youth’s body who drowned in the Ponnaniyar Dam near Vaiyampatti in Manapparai taluk.”

He is so popular in and around Manapparai that the term ‘GNR Ambulance” has become a watchword for the residents the town and nearby villages.

He soon expanded his ambulance service to 13 places including Manapparai, Vaiyampatti, Ramji Nagar, Tiruvermbur and Thuvakudi.

It was the Government Railway police who started seeking his assistance, as he was skilled in locating passengers who had fallen from running trains.

“I walk along the track as the van is not accessible in certain interior villages,” he said explaining the reason for the Railway police seeking his assistance.

He has so far saved the lives of 12 persons by rushing them to the government or private hospital during the golden hour. His sound knowledge in using the ventillator and oxygen for artificial support has gone a long way in saving ives.

He attributes his success to the support from his team that he has been training in batches. His wife Dhanalakshmi has also been extending adequate relief measures to those involved in accidents. His brothers have also extended financial assistance for purchasing the van and other equipment.

“I have trained a number of persons, and some of them have also started rescue and relief ambulance services,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.

Even after the introduction of the 108 ambulance service, he is much sought after by members of the public and the police.

He has gone to the aid of around 2,000 persons with simple injuries. For instance, a group of three passengers who got buried when a sand-laden vehicle telescoped into a bus.

“Fortnuately, all of them were alive and I rescued them with ease,” he says.

Sridharan is ready to impart training to the needy. He can be contacted by dialling 98424-61006

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/a-good-samaritan-on-wheels/article19168879.ece