DHENKANAL: The district administration is initiating special measures to rescue accident victims as a part of which, a special rescue team has been deployed on Dhenkanal-Angul stretch of NH 55. With the number of accidents rising on the highways, the Red Cross Rapid Response Team, comprising 40 volunteers, has been put in place by the district administration to rescue victims and provide them with immediate medical aid.
These volunteers have been trained by St John Ambulance wing. Apart from this, accident care units have been opened in the district headquarters hospital and Odapara public health centre to provide medical aid to the victims. These centres are equipped with separate OT, CARM machines and other equipment worth ` 30 lakh for quick diagnosis of
injuries.
So far, the volunteers have rescued as many as 200 accident victims. District Magistrate Girish S N has empowered 10 volunteers with special police officer power keeping in mind the legal aspects.
“These volunteers were a godsend for me. I owe my life to them as they took care of everything, starting from medicines to expenses, after my accident,” said Madhav Meher of Sonepur. Madhav was pushed out of a running train and was rescued at Nayabhagirathipur railway station by Rapid Response Team volunteers on December 20 last and admitted to the accident unit. Likewise, Rabi Behera, a resident of Cuttack, was rescued by the volunteers after he met with an accident on the NH at Baulpur here last week.
Sources said for the purpose, the Regional Transport Authority of Dhenkanal unit has donated ` 3 lakh in the last six months to the district Red Cross unit. RTO Sanjay Biswal said the Orissa Road Safety Society (STA), Cuttack, has supplied a gas cutter to Odapada PHC to rescue victims from vehicles after accidents. Helpline numbers have been displayed in hoardings at every one km of the NH. CDMO B C Behera said medicines and vans are always kept ready at the accident unit in Dhenkanal hospital for the victims.
