Chennai: As the Jallikattu protests which began a week ago, began to get ugly on Monday morning, ambulances had to be brought in to Marina Beach – the epicentre of the protests – and in other parts of the state where many were injured in clashes.
Engrossed in the clashes and lathi charge, policemen, in two separate cases, hit two drivers of the 108-ambulance service, mistaking them to be part of the clash, close to Marina and Triplicane.
They are undergoing treatment and doing well, said a source, adding that one of the two was initially taken to Royapettah Government Hospital and later shifted to Apollo, Greams Road, while the other injured is recuperating at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH).
The Ambulance service 108 had a very busy day not only in Chennai but also across the state wherever there were protests and injury or emergency distress calls. “Our ambulances were plying, while members of the team were kept on high alert. We coordinated with the police as well as respective district administrations,” said Prabhudoss B., head, marketing and hospital relations, GVK EMRI, which operates the 108 helpline.
The ambulances did not have much trouble on the roads as the public made way for them, except in some places, where there was extreme traffic congestion, he added.
