SNS, SILIGURI, 7 SEPTEMBER 2020 : The Darjeeling district administration has introduced a uniform fare structure for ambulances and hearses for transportation of Covid-19 and non-Covid patients and carrying bodies.
There have been widespread allegations that ambulances were charging exorbitant rates in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
According to the fare structure released today for Covid 19 patients, ambulances (Omni van type) can charge Rs 1100 within the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area (within 22 km), while it will be Rs 1400 for the hearse. For the same area and same distance, a Sumo-Bolero type ambulance can charge Rs 1300 for a patient and Rs 1600 for a body.
For the same area and same distance, the Omni van type ambulance can charge Rs 500 for non-Covid patients, Rs 800 for the body, while the fares in the Sumo-Bolero type ambulance will be Rs 700 and Rs 1000.
For the Siliguri Sub Division and adjoining areas (up to 50 km), the Omni van type vehicle can charge Rs 2200 for a patient and Rs 2500 for the body, while for the Sumo Bolero type vehicles, the rate will be Rs 2400 and Rs 2700.
For non-Covid patients, the fare for the Omni van type ambulance will be Rs 1600 and for the hearse it will be Rs 1900. The charge for the Sumo Bolero type ambulance will be Rs 1800 and for the hearse it will be Rs 2100.
For a distance up to 100 km, in the Siliguri Sub Division and adjoining areas, the Omni van ambulance and Sumo-Bolero vehicles. can charge Rs 3100 for a patient and Rs 3400, for Covid patients and bodies, respectively.
For non-Covid patients, the chargc for the same distance will be Rs 25,00 and Rs 2,800 for the hearse.
Beyond the Siliguri Sub-Division and for a distance of more than 1000 km, the administration has fixed the fare for the Omni van type ambulance at Rs 22/km for carrying a patient, while the Sumo-Bolero type ambulance can charge Rs 25/km. For an airconditioned ambulance, the fare has been fixed at Rs 30/km. The fare structure is same for non-Covid patients.
The order, however, said 10 percent extra will be chargeable on the fares for the Hills. "The hospital concerned will provide one set of PPE to the driver for Covid patients, and additional Rs 300 will be charged for oxygen if required, while an additional charge for waiting up to five hours within the SMC area will be Rs 300," the notice regarding the fares say.
Darjeeling district magistrate S Ponnambalam said the fares had been fixed after discussions with ambulance associations and private
Two Covid patients die
Two persons front Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts died at the Desun (Covid) Hospital in Siliguri in the past 24 hours, sources said.
A 60-year-old resident of Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri died there last night, while another 53-year-old resident of Alipurduar died hours after his admission there yesterday.
71 new eases in Darj dist
Meanwhile, Darjeeling district recorded 71 new Covid -19 cases in the past 24 hours. A total of 28 cases were found in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area. Of the 28 cases, 21 are under areas that fall in the district, sources said.
Eleven cases were found in Matigara, 10 in Naxalbari and three in Kharibari blocks. Eleven cases were also detected in Pulbazaar, five in Darjeeling Municipality, four in Takdah, three in Sukna, two in Mirik, and one in Sukhia Pokhari.
Sixty four patients were discharged following their recovery, including those who completed their home isolation.
107 in Alipurduar
A total of 107 persons were tested positive for the virus in Alipurduar district today, sources said. The fresh cases have taken the total number of Covid -19 cases in the district to 2824.A total of 1137 patients have, however, discharged from various hospitals after they recovered. "Sixteen patients who had tested positive for Covid19 have died in Alipurduar district so far," the sources said.
32 in Malda
Malda district continued to record a dip in the number of new infections. Only 32 of the 1278 were tested positive in the RT-PCR tests conducted at the VRDL. in the Malda Medical College and Hospital last night, sources said. Nine of the fresh cases arc from areas under the English Bazaar Municipality and five from Chanchal-I, while the remaining cases are from various other blocks of the district.
(Courtesy & source- The Statesman- https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2812559/Siliguri-The-Statesman/07-TH-SEPTEMBER-2020#page/2/1)
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