Truck drivers in Manipur demand road safety, BLS ambulance required

Imphal: Truck drivers and owners in Manipur’s Senapati district, under the aegis of the North East Federation of Trade Unions (NEFTU), have submitted a memorandum to the state government requesting a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance and a recovery van.

The Senapati District Truck Drivers Union and the Senapati District Truck Owners Association presented the memorandum to the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, Losii Dikho, during an event held at the Senapati district headquarters on Sunday.

The memorandum highlights that the National Highways passing through Nagaland, and the stretch from Mao Gate to the Senapati district headquarters, contain several accident-prone zones.

Due to poor road conditions, challenging hilly terrain, and a lack of adequate emergency medical facilities, particularly ambulance services, drivers and the general public face significant hardships during road accidents.

In the event of an accident, victims are often compelled to travel long distances without a proper BLS ambulance, posing serious risks to their lives. The absence of immediate emergency response facilities has resulted in avoidable suffering and, at times, the loss of lives.

Responding to the memorandum, the Deputy Chief Minister assured representatives of the Union that he would bring the matter to the attention of the concerned authorities, acknowledging that the Union has been working diligently for the welfare of the citizens.

Additionally, NEFTU was formed on November 30, 2021, with representatives from eight northeastern states, including Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Tripura.

The Union works to protect the rights of the working class, specifically in the transport sector.