As an ambulance driver, Bashir Ahmad witnesses emergencies on a daily basis. During 2016 uprising, he ferried dozens of critically injured people to Srinagar. On Sunday, however, when 20 persons were killed in Shopian and about 200 injured, he got the scare of his life.
When the injured started streaming Shopian hospital, Bashir geared up for imminent journey to Srinagar, where most of critically injured people are referred for specialised treatment.
The journey is not easy. During 2016, seven ambulances drivers were injured and more than 200 ambulances were damaged.
Bashir had been spared a beating during the uprising.
“Yesterday, I was taking a boy who had pellet injury in the eye to the SMHS Hospital. They (forces) stopped me and said ‘don’t move an inch’. Then they addressed the boy ‘why do you throw stones? Now sit for the entire day. We won’t let you go,’” Bashir said.
“For one-and-a-half hours they won’t let me go. They didn’t beat the patient or me but they kept us waiting,” he said.
And when the forces relented finally, Bashir felt relieved.
“When they stopped us I was certain that would shoot me. I was praying to God to show mercy on me and the patient,” he said.
Bashir had not been stopped once during 2016 when ambulance drivers were getting beaten up everywhere.
“This was my first bad experience,” he said.
Shopian block medical officer Dr Yousuf, when asked about this incident, said, “The hospital administration has barred us to from divulging any information to the media.”