Minister finds tyre placed on ambulance seat, suspends driver

Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane today suspended a driver of the state-run ambulance service for keeping a tyre on the seat of the vehicle meant for carrying a patient, an official said.

"During his inspection visit to a government hospital in South Goa today, health minister Vishwajit Rane found that a tyre was placed on the seat of the ambulance, which is meant to carry a patient," a health department official said.

This particular vehicle of the '108' ambulance service was stationed outside a district hospital in Margao when the minister paid a visit there along with senior officials.

"The minister ordered immediate suspension of the driver as he was found playing around with the government facilities. He has been charged with indiscipline," the official said.

The minister, who was recently inducted into the Manohar Parrikar-led cabinet, has earlier suspended 20 staffers attached to the 108-emergency ambulance service, following a surprise inspection. The minister had found that the staff was missing from some ambulances and had abandoned the vehicles.

Rane has told the department to ensure that the response time of the ambulances should be quick.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)