In a bizarre incident in Uttarakhand, a group of devotees heading to Kedarnath Dham attempted to dodge traffic congestion by hiring ambulances and using emergency sirens to avoid police checks. The incident, which occurred on June 14, saw two ambulances converted into taxis and used to transport the pilgrims from Haridwar to Kedarnath under the guise of a medical emergency.
The plan initially worked as the ambulances managed to cross multiple checkpoints without being stopped. However, at Sonprayag, local police grew suspicious when they received no emergency alert, which is typically communicated in genuine medical cases from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. Upon stopping the vehicles, police discovered that instead of patients, the ambulances were carrying comfortably seated devotees enjoying the air conditioning.
Authorities promptly issued challans to the drivers and warned against misuse of emergency services. The incident has raised serious concerns about the exploitation of critical medical infrastructure for personal convenience during peak pilgrimage season.
