In wounded Valley, ambulances used to ferry 'VIP guests'

As people in the Valley struggle to rush the wounded to hospitals, the government is using a fleet of its ambulances to ferry “VIP guests” for picnicking.

Sources told DH that some brand new ambulances, which were yet to be commissioned for patient care, were being used to ferry these guests to health resorts, including in  Pahalgam and Sonamarg.

They said the “VIPs”, who are from outside the state and are reportedly being hosted by some ministers and senior bureaucrats, were feeling suffocated indoors and wanted to go out for a picnic.

However, given the prevailing unrest in Kashmir, which has claimed over 45 lives and left more than 3,000  wounded in the past 12 days , the officials observed that the movement of their guests would not be feasible in armoured vehicles as it could only aggravate the situation.

Finally, the issue was resolved when it was decided that the guests would be offered a joyride in an ambulances, insiders said.

It was, however, learnt that the “classy guests” had a precondition that they would travel only in new ambulances than the ones already in use for patients. “They had a precondition that they would only travel in new ambulances as travelling in old ambulances could bring misfortune…So, finally our bosses got some of the brand new ambulances rolled out for the guests,” said a junior  staffer in the state health department. On July 19, at least two such ambulances of the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir,  were seen ferrying guests to the picturesque Pari Mahal at Zaberwan Hills here for a picnic. Citizen journalist Hashim Hamid, who clicked some pictures, said he was puzzled to see ambulances at a picnic spot  when the Kashmir Valley is burning.