KANNUR: One might laugh at him for his idea. But, Thasneem is not one who cowers down before collective ridicule. Young and enterprising, he believes that his idea, Air Ambulance is a possibility in Kerala and the times demand such an initiative so that many a life can be saved through such a fast medium of travel, overcoming the hurdle of speeding through the heavy traffic laden roads of Kerala.
The idea hit him exactly on November 17 as he came across a news through social media that an ambulance had started from Kannur taking 31 days old Fathima Laiba to SCT, Thiruvananthapuram for urgent treatment. "People who came across that news had spent the next seven hours in prayer and anxiety. Though the driver had taken the baby to the hospital in seven hours, the agony suffered by the parents and relatives during that harrowing hours were beyond words.
That made me think about a fast medium of transporting such serious patients to the hospitals', Thasneem said. As a man whose family is in the field of air travel for years, the idea seemed not impractical for Thasneem. With the support and encouragement from his family and friends, Thansneem had started working on this project and has almost reached the level of realising his dream. His online portal 'www.flybuk.com' is the first step in that direction.
Through this portal, those who are in urgent need to transport a person to a distant destination, can seek the services of his company. Thasneem had made some tie-ups with Air Ambulance providers at other centres like Bangaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. "As of now, we will be able to provide this service within two hours provided the flight availability and flight plans are on our side', he said.
Thasneem Muhammad, who has an MBA degree to his name, which he got from the University of Derby, UK, (Malaysia), knows the hassles involved in establishing an expensive mode of travel for ailing patients in Kerala. "For one trip, a person has to spend around Rs. 80,000 to 90,000 per hour, depending on the facilities of the aircraft. I know, this is too expensive for an ordinary family. But, I believe, if one such serious case comes up, helping hands will be extended from many quarters, including the government. Still, lets pray that no such incidents come up', he said.
The 25-year-old young man, from Eachur, Kannur, has a dream to set up Air Ambulance service across the nation through his new venture. The backing he receives from his father, Muhammad Ali Haji, MD of Star of Asia, an established firm dealing in Air Travel and real estate business, is the force that drives him towards achieving his dreams.