Krishnagiri: A total of 25 two-wheeler ambulances, procured in 2025 at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore to provide emergency medical assistance to people in hilly villages across 10 districts in Tamil Nadu, lie idle due to a dearth of trained persons to operate them and provide medical care, according to health department officials.
These bike ambulances are equipped with modern medical equipment, oxygen cylinders, and first aid medicines. Two of the 25 bike ambulances were allotted to Krishnagiri district to provide emergency medical assistance to people living in around 50 hilly villages near Anchetty. However, these two-wheelers now lie idle on the premises of the Denkanikottai Government Hospital.
As a result, people in villages like Urigam, Kottaiyur, and Manjukondapalli are left without means for emergency medical care. Villagers report that many deaths due to snakebites and other causes could have been prevented had emergency medical care been available.
K Premkumar of Manjukondapalli village said, "The two two-wheeler emergency vehicles provided for the use of the tribal people in the hill villages have not been operated due to the negligence of the authorities. As a result, the people of the hill villages continue to lack access to emergency medical services."
A health department official in the district explained that the bike ambulances were meant to provide prenatal care, safe delivery transport, and assistance in unexpected emergencies. "The aim of the initiative was to improve tribal health services in districts including Erode, Krishnagiri, Salem, Vellore, Dharmapuri, and the Nilgiris. Its primary objective was to provide treatment during the most critical time known as the golden hour. But these bikes remain idle in all districts due to a dearth of trained riders who can provide first aid or necessary treatment," the official said.
