Port Blair, Aug 11: The residents of Bambooflat and adjoining areas have always been demanding for a standby boat at the jetty to shift emergency cases to Port Blair’s GB Pant Hospital. It’s a very old demand since the place is isolated and in order to reach Port Blair by road, any person has to travel for atleast an hour. On certain occasions, heeding to the requests of the residents, the Directorate of Shipping Services had stationed standby boats at the jetty during night, to meet such challenges. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially after the lockdown has been announced, there are no standby boats, which has been affecting the people badly.

In one such situation, a 10 year old boy started vomiting blood and was taken to the PHC Bambooflat today. He was immediately referred to the GB Pant Hospital by the PHC but the patient was made to wait for two long hours before a boat could reach to shift the emergency case. The condition of the boy is said to be stable now but this may not be the case with every patient who is referred. The need is to station a boat on standby at Bambooflat so as to cater to the emergency requirements of the residents out there.