A major incident has occurred in Kerala. The escort jeep of Kerala Education Minister V. Shivankutty’s convoy collided heavily with an ambulance van at an intersection. The ambulance overturned like a turtle. The accident took place in the city of Kollam, leaving three people, including patients, seriously injured. The incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the intersection and the footage has gone viral on social media (Kerala Accident Video). People are holding the minister responsible for the accident. Many have cited the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had cleared the way for an ambulance by stopping his convoy in the middle.
Driver is being held responsible
The accident occurred on Thursday (July 13) at the Kottarakkara-Pulaman Junction in Kollam. The driver of the escort vehicle in the minister’s convoy is being held responsible for the mistake. According to traffic regulations, an ambulance is an emergency service and has the right of way. It is said that the driver of the escort vehicle should have stopped upon hearing the ambulance siren. The video clearly shows that the ambulance was crossing the intersection at a high speed when it was struck by the rear portion of the escort vehicle, causing the ambulance to flip multiple times. However, the police stated that during the accident at the intersection, the traffic was halted to allow the minister’s convoy to pass, and it was during this time that the ambulance entered.
Kerala Education Minister V Sivan Kutty’s pilot vehicle crashed against an ambulance near Kottarakara in Kollam district. 3 were injured in this accident. pic.twitter.com/l3ROkGd2sn
— Bharat । भारत । ਭਾਰਤ (@RealBharatB) July 13, 2023
Traffic policeman narrowly escaped
The CCTV video also shows that a traffic policeman narrowly escaped being caught in the overturned ambulance. This policeman managed to avoid being hit as the ambulance flipped over. If the traffic policeman had been a little closer, his life could have been in danger.
Bike had violated the rules
The video also shows that a bike had violated the rules at the intersection, with two people riding on it. In an attempt to avoid this bike, the escort vehicle slowed down. If this had not happened, the collision between the escort vehicle and the ambulance could have been more severe, endangering the lives of the policemen inside the escort vehicle. According to media reports, after the accident, the Education Minister immediately got out of his car and reached the ambulance. He assessed the condition of the people inside and made arrangements for their transportation to the hospital through the police.
PM Modi has stopped his convoy
#WATCH | Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, en route from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, stopped his convoy to give way to an ambulance pic.twitter.com/yY16G0UYjJ
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2022
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who travels in the country’s most heavily guarded convoy, is not allowed to stop anywhere for even a second. Despite this, PM Modi has stopped his convoy several times to let ambulances pass. Last year in September, while traveling from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, he made way for an ambulance. Similarly, in November, during an election rally in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, PM Modi halted his convoy and allowed an ambulance to pass. In December 2022, during a roadshow in Ahmedabad, PM Modi stopped his entire convoy for an ambulance.
