Free auto rides by drivers for Covid-19 patients

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<strong>Goodness can sprout anywhere and at any time. The ongoing second wave of Covid-19 pandemic has made several ordinary people heroes and one such is BV Prashanth Kumar, an auto driver who transports Covid-19 patients free.</strong></p>
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Kumar is an auto driver from Kodagu who is a native of Suntikoppa has turned into a Covid warrior who ferries residents who have been tested positive, absolutely free. So far he has done that for more than 55 patients.</p>
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He is determined to do so till the lockdown is lifted.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/india-news/autorickshaw-ambulances-lead-the-way-across-india-to-ferry-covid-patients-to-hospitals-88337.html">Autorickshaw Ambulances lead the way across India to ferry Covid-19 patients to hospitals</a></strong></p>
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<strong>Turn of events</strong></p>
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Parvathy, the 65-year-old mother of Kumar was detected with Coronavirus a month ago and since her condition was critical, she was shifted to the Madikeri Covid Hospital.</p>
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Having been on the ventilator facility, her treatment turned out to be successful and she returned home. The turning point for Kumar came when he was attending to his mother in the hospital. He saw how helpless the Covid patients were.</p>
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Talking to Express News Service Kumar said: “When I admitted my mother to the hospital in Madikeri, I observed that many Covid patients suffered due to the unavailability of transport facilities. Further, a school teacher and her entire family, who stay close to my house, tested Covid positive. No one came forward to take them to the Madikeri COVID Hospital – which is nearly 15 km away. I took a leap of faith and dropped them to the hospital.”</p>
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After this moving incident, Kumar shared his mobile number across WhatsApp groups and started his service from April 30.</p>
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<strong>Help from different quarters</strong></p>
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Aiding him in this task was the Suntikoppa panchayat member Sunil and Panchayat Development Officer, Venugopal. They helped Kumar he getting an identity card and a pass to drive his auto rickshaw during the curfew hours.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/health-news/now-noida-too-gets-auto-ambulance-to-ferry-covid-patients-89032.html">Now Noida too gets auto ambulance to ferry Covid-19 patients</a></strong></p>
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The pass has helped him immensely as he shared his experience. “One day, at around 11 p.m., I saw a man in an unconscious state lying near the Market area in Madikeri. When I took him to the hospital, he tested positive for Covid and was admitted. His name was Haneef. However, he succumbed to the infection.”</p>
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Another help came from Dr. Jeevan of the Suntikoppa Hospital, who provides Kumar with personal protective equipment kits for his safety. Meanwhile, the panchayat member Sunil, social worker Rakesh and Suntikoppa Rakshana Vedike members help him by arranging money for the fuel.</p>
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Kumar stresses that this work gives him immense happiness and satisfaction. “At the beginning, my family feared for my life. But now, they are proud of my work.”</p>
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<strong>Serving the nation, Akash Denur</strong></p>
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Amid the rising cases of Coronovirus and the problems of transportation faced by the patients and their family members, a young auto-rickshaw driver in Kalaburagi started a free service for Covid-19 patients who are unable to book ambulances.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Akash_Denur1_ANI_Twitter.jpg" style="width: 680px; height: 555px;" /></p>
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<em>Service to the nation by helping Coronavirus patients (Pic: Courtesy Twitter/@ANI)</em></p>
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Speaking to ANI news agency, Akash Denur, revealed that he had dreamt of serving the country at the borders in the Army. As his dream did not come true, he decided to serve the people on the ground amid the pandemic.</p>
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"Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, there's a dearth of facilities, be it ambulances or autos. That is why I'm giving free services. I have been driving an auto for four years. I had a dream to join the Army but it could not be fulfilled. So I am serving the people like this,” said Denur.</p>
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He went on to add: “I have been doing this for the last few days. Those who need my services just give me a call, I reach their home and drop them to the hospital. The public is really suffering. This is the least I can do."</p>