I feel like a soldier today: Tanker driver
LUCKNOW : It was an emotional, yet dutiful moment for Ravindra Singh as he played a part in the mission to offer life-giving hope to people in distress due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Singh drove one of the oxygen tankers to a gas plant in Lucknow after it arrived by the Oxygen Express train on Saturday morning. He was also part of the arduous journey from Lucknow to Bokaro and back as the Oxygen Express transported his tanker and two others. One tanker contained about 15,000 litres of oxygen. In fact, he had accompanied the tanker all through the journey on the train as he had expertise to do so.
“I felt like a soldier today. In my 18-year-long tenure as a driver, never before did I feel so satisfied. I am blessed to be a part of the operation that would infuse life in many who are gasping for air,” he said.
Singh, who hails from Hyderabad, also known as Padwa village, of Bareilly, said that he always dreamt to be an army officer.
“I have seen many of my co-villagers joining the army and other armed forces. I, too, wanted to join the armed forces. But, family responsibilities and a poor financial condition didn’t
let me pursue my dreams. I ended up at a workshop where I learnt driving skills and I eventually opted to be a truck driver,” said Singh who had to quit his studies in Class 8.
He was contacted by the transport department almost a week back, asking him to transport oxygen from Bokaro in Jharkhand. He had to come to Lucknow from Modinagar for the job.
“I was assigned the task by my employer to go to Bokaro to transport oxygen from there. I thought it to be a regular transportation (job) and I said yes. It was when my truck was loaded on the flat wagons of Oxygen Express, I realised that how big this mission is and that it would save thousands of lives,” said Singh.
He said his unrealised dream of joining the armed forces came true as he completed the operation successfully on Saturday.
“The operation actually gave me a soldier-like-feeling and an immense sense of satisfaction of having served the nation at a time of need. I never felt like this in my 18-year long career. I can say that my dream of being a defence personnel was fulfilled today,” said Singh while unloading oxygen gas at the gas plant.
He said he at least had something to share with his children and family members on how the entire mission unfolded and how efforts were made to end the oxygen crisis in the state.