CRPF gets 21 DRDO-developed bike ambulances for remote area operations

In remote Naxal violence and insurgency-affected areas, 21 'bike ambulances' established by the DRDO were enrolled into the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Monday for casualty evacuation duties.

The customised 'Rakshita' ambulances were built on 350cc Royal Enfield Classic bikes by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a DRDO scientific research agency.

CRPF chief Mr. A P Maheshwari stated that the bikes will be used to evacuate sick or wounded paramilitary force troops in operating areas including the Left-Wing Extremism-affected states and insurgency-hit areas.

He added that these ambulances would also be "gainfully utilised" to support the residents of the region where the force is stationed.

As a casualty evacuation seat with recline, the bike's pillion has been customised and has a hand immobiliser and harness jacket, a spokesman for CRPF said.

He added that the driver has been equipped with a physiological parameter measuring device with monitoring capability and auto-warning feature including a dashboard-mounted LCD for the calculation of critical casualty parameters.

The ambulance also has a medical and oxygen air splint kit, which, among others, can provide saline and oxygen on the move, adjustable footrest, and hand and foot harness for protection, the spokesman said.

An initial fund of more than Rs. 35.49 lakh (US$ 48.50 thousand) for this project was approved by the force, he said.

In February 2018, when the troops of its 85th battalion deployed in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district used their patrol bikes to evacuate casualties from remote areas under its jurisdiction, the CRPF, the country's lead force for anti-Naxal operations and internal security, first toyed with the bike ambulance concept.

Following this, to build a completely functional and equipment-supported bike ambulance, the force approached INMAS.

To make the vision come true, the INMAS quickly set together a team of scientists and experts. With the input of CRPF workers working in disturbed areas, the team designed a prototype and improved it, the spokesman said.

Also, at the handing over of the bike ambulance event held at the CRPF headquarters on Lodhi Road distinguished scientist and director general (life sciences) at DRDO Mr. A K Singh was present.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.