Himachal's 1st woman ambulance driver joins duty

Rajiv Mahajan

NURPUR, JANUARY 24

Nancy Katnoria (22) from Hamirpur has become the first woman in the state to drive an ambulance and provide emergency transport service to patients.

She was trained to drive the vehicle at the school of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). Earlier, trained woman drivers were inducted in the HRTC to drive buses.

Nancy said she dreamt of becoming a trained driver to serve the society. “I am jubilant at joining the 102 emergency ambulance service at the Nurpur civil hospital, and fulfil my wish,” she said.

Dream turns into reality

I dreamt of becoming a trained driver to serve the society. I am jubilant at joining the 102 emergency ambulance service at the Nurpur civil hospital, and fulfil my wish. —Nancy Katnoria

The 102 ambulance service was launched in the state on November 14, 2014. The service has as many as 125 ambulances operational across the state. Fitted with GPS and requisite medical equipment, the vehicles render round the clock free service to pregnant women, newborn babies and their mothers.

Ishan Rana, district in charge of Patna-based Medswan Foundation, a private ambulance service company that has recently started 102 and 108 services in the state, said, “The company has not only hired drivers and support staff of the previous GVK EMRI service, but also given opportunities to the newly trained youth.”