Every run to hospital a death trap for patients in Bangalore

Driving an ambulance through the city’s potholed, uneven and gridlocked roads is an ordeal for drivers. As many roads leading to hospitals are in bad shape, they face a tough time while taking patients to hospitals within the ‘golden hour’.

Take for instance Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, where all approach roads seem to be in a mess, thus causing traffic bottlenecks and a bumpy drive to patients.

“Bangalore drivers lack lane discipline. The potholed roads are another hurdle. When stuck in a traffic jam, we feel guilty as patients have to be taken to hospitals at the soonest,” said Manjunath, an ambulance driver.

The potholes on Cunningham Road, where Fortis-Wockhardt Hospital is located, also pose a tough task for drivers. “Because of heavy traffic and bad maintenance of roads, there have been situations when patients died on the way to hospitals. If treated within the golden hour, their lives could have been saved,” said Gopi, an ambulance driver.

“Often, the family members of patients accuse us of driving at a snail’s pace. They do not understand how difficult a job we do. We drive amidst a lot of tension and stress, especially when an emergency case is onboard. So, we’ve to make sure that we avoid potholes and other bottlenecks. But this becomes difficult as most roads leading to hospitals are in a deplorable state,” said Ajmal, a private ambulance driver.

Bangalore deputy mayor Harish S said: “I’m aware of the bad approach roads leading to hospitals. I’m waiting for the budget to be sanctioned. Once that is done, this issue will be treated as a priority.”

The roads are, no doubt, overburdened with problems. But cities with worse stretches have handled the situation efficiently. Until city planners think big, driving on the city’s roads will be like playing a high-stake T20 cricket match. The slog overs begin as soon as one takes vehicle out of the garage.