Dhanbad, August 25: In a move aimed to provide immediate help to accident victims on the Delhi–Kolkata National Highway (NH-19), the Dhanbad district administration, in partnership with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has started a patrolling ambulance service.
The ambulance will patrol a 46 km stretch of the national highway—from Barakar Bridge at the Jharkhand–Bengal border to Barbadda in Dhanbad district.
The initiative was launched by Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan after repeated demands from residents, road safety activists, and civil society groups. Meanwhile, the NHAI officials will monitor the service under the supervision of the district administration.
The service has been rolled out with immediate effect and will operate 24×7.
Earlier, the absence of a dedicated ambulance on NH-19 often caused delays in rushing the victims to the hospitals. Victims had to wait until police arranged transport, leading to loss of lives in several cases.
The ambulance will continuously patrol NH-19 and remain stationed at Nirsa near the Maithon toll plaza for quick response. Helpline numbers have been released for the public. In case the vehicle is busy, victims or bystanders can directly contact the NHAI control room for support.
Officials said the service was launched following discussions in the district’s Road Safety meeting on Sunday, where the DC directed urgent steps to ensure timely medical aid for accident victims.
Reports highlight frequent accidents on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road (NH-19) in Dhanbad. On February 22, 2025, a tragic collision occurred when a vehicle carrying pilgrims rammed into a truck and divider, killing six people. Earlier, on November 4, 2024, three members of a family lost their lives after being hit by a speeding vehicle.
The main causes of such accidents are overspeeding on GT Road, drunken driving, distracted driving, and reckless overtaking.
