Pauri PHC ambulance stays parked without driver or valid papers, villagers use private cars
An ambulance at Hinsariyakhal PHC in Pauri Garhwal is idle for want of a driver and valid documents, so villagers pay for private vehicles, Amar Ujala reported.
An ambulance parked at the Hinsariyakhal Primary Health Centre in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, is not in use because no driver has been appointed and its documents are not up to date, Amar Ujala reported on 1 November 2026.
Naresh Umariyal of Umri Gram Panchayat said a village youth fell seriously ill around 1 AM on the previous Tuesday. His family took him to the PHC, but there was no driver or valid vehicle papers, so they paid Rs 2,000 for a private vehicle to Srikot Hospital.
Official response
Dr Akashdeep, in-charge of the Kirtinagar Community Health Centre, said the ambulance was provided for the area during COVID-19, when the government covered the driver and fuel. That arrangement ended once conditions normalised. He said the matter has been reported to the Chief Medical Officer and district administration, and that two ambulances are running smoothly in Kirtinagar block. Villagers have demanded better health services.
Why it matters for ambulance owners and drivers
The case shows how a lack of drivers, fuel funding and valid documents can leave a vehicle idle in remote hill areas.
Read the full report at the source: Amar Ujala
This is a summary written by the Ambulance Owner Association. The facts are from the source named above.