LUCKNOW: The crisis caused by the ongoing strike of ambulance drivers eased on Saturday with more than 90% of emergency medical vehicles of 102-108 services resuming operation in the city on Saturday.
There were, however, still some incidents where people could not get service on time and had to hire private ambulances after paying hefty charges.
The crisis began on Monday when employees of the state run 102-108 services started boycotting work in support of their demands for better wages and service conditions. However, GVK EMRI, the agency that operates the service, did not budge and sacked some employees while serving an ultimatum to others to join services by Saturday.
GVK EMRI vice-president TVSK Reddy said, “Now, 72 out of total 78 ambulances in Lucknow are back on roads with their staff coming back to work. We have also given advertisements for recruitment of new staff to replace the staff who didn’t report within given time.” There are 4,470 ambulances in the state under 108 and 102, and about, 4,100 are back on road, he added However, the employees’ association said that the company is misleading and inflating figures. “More than half of the ambulances are not running due to lack of staff,” said the association’s spokesperson Shadab Khan.
