Srinagar boatman over the moon after PM Modi praises his floating ambulance

<p>
<strong>Srinagar boatman Tariq Ahmad Patloo, whose efforts of running a floating ambulance service in Dal Lake amid Covid-19 pandemic were praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on Sunday, has expressed his gratitude to the PM.  <br />
</strong><br />
Patloo's struggle in getting timely transportation to the shore of Dal Lake during his covid illness prompted him to design his own Shikara as a water ambulance in order to ferry patients like him.<br />
<br />
"There are many people in our country who have come forward and worked to help the doctors. I came to know about one such attempt from Srinagar. Here a Boat Ambulance Service was started at Dal Lake. This service was started by Tariq Ahmad Patloo ji of Srinagar, who is a Houseboat Owner," PM Modi said during the 78th Episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' yesterday.<br />
<br />
"He himself has also fought the battle with Covid-19 and this inspired him to start the ambulance service. A campaign is also underway to make people aware of this ambulance, and continuous announcements from the ambulance are being made by him. The effort is that people should wear a mask and undertake other necessary precautions too," Modi added while praising Patloo's novel idea of a boat ambulance.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">
"वैसे हमारे देश में कई लोग ऐसे भी हैं जो डॉक्टर्स की मदद के लिए आगे बढ़कर काम करते हैं |<br />
<br />
श्रीनगर से एक ऐसे ही प्रयास के बारे में मुझे पता चला |"<br />
<br />
– पीएम श्री <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> .<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MannKiBaat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MannKiBaat</a> <a href="https://t.co/i2Q1TtrFZT">pic.twitter.com/i2Q1TtrFZT</a></p>
— Mann Ki Baat Updates मन की बात अपडेट्स (@mannkibaat) <a href="https://twitter.com/mannkibaat/status/1409028470114377728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>
Patloo, who contracted Covid-19 during the first wave in August last year, expressed happiness and thanked PM Modi for his appreciation.<br />
<br />
He said that the idea of a floating ambulance came after he faced a lot of difficulties to reach the hospital from Dal waters.<br />
<br />
"I extend my gratitude to PM Modi ji for mentioning my efforts during his programme 'Mann Ki Baat'. The appreciation from him is a great honour and means a lot for me. I hope the mention of my work in the programme will benefit my community who face a lot of problems during the ongoing pandemic," he said.<br />
<br />
After quarantining himself during the initial days of illness, Patloo's health had deteriorated and he was shifted to a hospital for treatment.<br />
<br />
"I felt helpless in reaching the shore of Dal Lake and to further reach the hospital. It was a difficult time for me and my family," he recalls.<br />
<br />
This incident etched in his mind for good as he decided to make a boat ambulance to ferry people who might need it during covid illness or any other medical emergency.<br />
<br />
"While recovering at a bed in the hospital I kept thinking about how to make a floating ambulance for all the Dal dwellers who are in need of this kind of facility," he said.<br />
<br />
After getting discharged from the hospital, Patloo’s sole objective was to design a floating ambulance for which he got some help from an NGO.<br />
<br />
Patloo’s floating ambulance is equipped with an oxygen concentrator, oxygen cylinder, first aid, stretcher, wheelchair, BP set and PPE kits.<br />
<br />
“I have a dream to do something big for my community who has suffered a lot in the past three decades. Now, my next step is to make a fire service boat for the people living in Dal Lake,” Patloo said.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also Read:<a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/kashmir-news/exotic-trout-gives-fillip-to-fish-farming-in-kashmir-95438.html"> Exotic Trout gives fillip to fish farming in Kashmir</a></strong></p>