By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: It is a common sight to see vehicles stop when the red light appears at traffic signals and move forward when the signal turns green. In one such instance, an ambulance found itself stuck at a traffic signal near the Kotwali Police Station, Patna. Despite sounding its siren, the vehicle remained trapped in the queue. It was then that Traffic Police Constable Sudha Kumari, displaying remarkable initiative, sprinted towards the traffic signal and manually changed the light to clear the way for the ambulance. Her swift action earned her much praise from the bystanders.
Female constable Sudha Kumari explained that, like every day, she was monitoring the traffic signal when she heard the ambulance’s siren. Without hesitation, she ran to the signal and manually turned it, prioritising the ambulance to allow it to exit the traffic congestion swiftly. She stated that during VVIP movements, the traffic police take extra care to ensure essential vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines are given priority.
“I heard the sound of the ambulance and immediately ran to the signal. My first action was to change it manually, allowing the ambulance to pass. This is our duty, and during training, we are taught that emergency vehicles like ambulances or fire engines must always be given priority at traffic signals,” she said.
The capital city of Patna is frequently congested, with long queues forming at traffic lights. To manage this, traffic police are stationed at major intersections, supported by cameras installed through the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). These cameras ensure traffic violations are monitored, and offenders are issued online fines for breaking traffic rules.
Sub-Inspector Rajkumar Bharti, who was also at the traffic signal, confirmed that strict action is regularly taken against those who violate traffic regulations. He added that priority is always given to emergency vehicles, and when needed, signals are manually changed to facilitate their movement.
“A commendable initiative was seen from the female traffic constable. The ambulance was stuck, but once she heard the siren, she ran to manually change the signal. After considerable effort, the ambulance was finally able to move on,” he said.
