Vrindavan tragedy: Ambulance drivers transporting bodies to Punjab as goodwill feted in Malerkotla
These activists performed emotionally and physically taxing work of driving for about 600 km to transport 10 bodies respectfully at Ludhiana and Jagraon without caring for rest and comfort
Ambulance owners and drivers who transported bodies of victims of Vrindavan boat tragedy to their respective native places in Punjab as goodwill gesture could have gone as unsung heroes had enthusiasts at Malerkotla not organised a brief halt to felicitate them during their return journey on Saturday afternoon.
Activists of All India Ambulance Owners Welfare Association, with headquarters in Agra, performed crucial, emotionally taxing and daring work to drive for about 600 km with a pious target to leave 10 bodies respectfully at Ludhiana and Jagraon without caring for rest and comfort for themselves.
It was a sheer coincidence that Directors of Gulzar Hospital Dr Gulzar Shah and Dr Sohail came to know that the bodies of the victims are being shifted by the association as a goodwill gesture, following which the organisation decided to felicitate the owners and drivers of ambulances during their return journey.
Ambulance owners and drivers from Vrindavan felicitated at Malerkotla.
Mohammad Aslam, convener of the event, said Pawan Kumar from Samana, a senior functionary of the association led the ambulance owners during a brief function organised at Malerkotla. “As desired by Dr Gulzar Shah, we organised a felicitation function and lunch for the staff accompanying the ambulance as a humble attempt to recognise their selfless service towards humanity,” said Aslam.
Satish Kumar, national president of the association, appreciated that owners and drivers of ambulances deployed on the mission had performed their duty diligently.
“Most of them are from non-Hindu communities and they paid due respect to the bodies of devotees during shifting, transportation and handing over at their destination,” said Satish Kumar appreciating that the enthusiasts had succeeded in spreading a message of universal brotherhood and respect for mortal remains of humans irrespective of their religion.
Local ambulance owners acknowledged that amounts between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 are normally charged for transporting bodies from Vrindavan to various localities of Malwa. “But we don’t want our gesture to be measured in terms of money. More important is dedication, commitment and respect shown by our members towards grief-stricken families,” said Pawan Kumar.
