Ambulance driver braves shelling to save lives in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri
Rajouri, May 15: In a remarkable display of courage and commitment, an ambulance driver and his team risked their lives to rescue injured civilians during intense shelling by the Pakistani army on Rajouri town and its surrounding areas on the morning of May 10.
According to officials, the Health and Medical Education Department had established an ambulance control unit at the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) office in Rajouri, where five ambulance doctors were stationed on round-the-clock duty.
At around 5:15 AM, on-duty ambulance driver Mohammad Sayeed Wani received an urgent call from the control room: the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Rajouri had been injured in his government quarter.
Undeterred by the ongoing shelling, Wani, accompanied by a co-driver and a nursing assistant, rushed to the location and evacuated the injured officer, who unfortunately succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
But Wani’s efforts didn’t stop there. Throughout the morning, he continued to respond to multiple emergency calls, rescuing injured civilians from several locations, including industrial areas and nearby villages.
His bravery and selfless service have drawn widespread praise across the region.
The shelling, which began at 5:00 AM and lasted for nearly three hours, resulted in three deaths—including the senior officer—and left seven others injured.
“I was the first ambulance driver on duty and responded immediately after receiving the SOS call,” Wani said. “I was accompanied by a co-driver and a nursing assistant. We rushed to four different locations under heavy shelling to rescue the injured.”
He added, “It was a team effort, and the motivation from our officers kept us going. We didn’t think about ourselves—even a single thought of personal safety could have made us hesitate.”
Chief Medical Officer Rajouri, Dr. Manohar Lal Rana, called the actions of the ambulance teams that day “heroic.”
“Ambulance drivers across the district responded in an unimaginable manner and carried out evacuations under heavy shelling,” the CMO said. “We are proud to have such dedicated men on our team.”
