KOCHI: In what can be seen as sending a message to rash drivers who block the way of an ambulance rushing towards hospitals, the Ernakulam Rural Police on Thursday booked a case against Nirmal Jose, a native of Power House Road in Aluva.The police action came after Madhu, an ambulance driver who was on a mission to shift an infant suffering from breathing problem from a private hospital in Perumbavoor to the Government Medical College in Kalamassery, shared his harrowing experience through Facebook.
The video posted by Madhu showed the mini-SUV owned by Nirmal managing to overtake the ambulance near GTN junction along the Perumbavoor-Aluva Road and refusing to give way for almost 15 minutes.
Madhu said they managed to reach the hospital only after taking a deviation from the Cochin Bank Junction.“The vehicle (KL-17 L 202) did not allow us to overtake it. While it normally takes around 15 minutes to clear the stretch and reach Kalamassery Medical College, it took us nearly 35 minutes on Thursday because of the incident,” said Madhu.
“A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered. Though we went to Nirmal's home, he was absconding. His family had no idea of his whereabouts. We hope we can trace him in a few hours,” said the police. The Aluva Sub-Regional Transport Office said a show-cause notice had been issued to the driver for negligent driving. “We will hold a discussion with the RTO for cancelling his driving licence. At present, we can suspend the licence,” said C S Ayyappan, JRTO.