Fatehpur’s ‘ambulance man’ a ray of hope for people in distress
KANPUR: In the last 11 years, Ashok Kumar Tapasvi has taken at least 900 people, most of them accident victims, to hospitals in the ambulance that he drives in Fatehpur, 80 kms south of Kanpur.
It is his punctuality and commitment to serve humanity that many people prefer to call him during emergency instead of a government ambulance.
He gets 4-5 calls in a day to shift patients to hospitals or to take bodies to the mortuary.
Ashok, who is into agriculture and helps farmers increase their income, started his ambulance service in 2007 after the demise of his father who wanted his sons to help the people.
“I decided to help people in distress and bought a vehicle to run my own ambulance service. I myself drive the ambulance as drivers don’t have the stomach to withstand the sight of blood,” he says.
“At times I have to lift accident victims on my own and put them in the van. People want to help but back out as they are uncomfortable at the sight of blood,” he says.
Not only that he drops people to the hospital, he also spends time with patients and prays for their speedy recovery.
“You can say this is my ‘ibadat’ (worship). God has chosen me for this deed and I am just doing my duty,” he says.
However, it was the derailment of Kalka Express in July 2011 which tested his resolve to help people.
Over 80 people had died and hundreds were injured in the incident. Ashok drove 36 hours non-stop taking the injured to hospitals and the dead to the mortuary.
That is when he began taking bodies to the mortuary and has shifted 344 bodies till date.
Over a period of time, his phone number has been circulated in all parts of the district. Once he gets a call, he takes a maximum of three minutes to start off.
Superintendent of police, Fatehpur, Rahul Raj says: “Helping an injured is the real service. Ashok is an inspiration to all. Anyone can take an injured to the hospital and the police will not question him.”
Mohammad Jaun, a government employee who sought Ashok’s help last year, says his mother was ailing and he called him up at 3 am. “In 15 minutes, he was there helping us put her in the van. He did not leave her side till the morning and prayed for her,” he recalls.
Ashok has an advice for the people. “Keep yourself safe on the road. Wear helmets and seat belts. I am taking all the precautions, everyone should. Every life is precious,” he says.