Ambulance falls into Rangeet, claims one

GANGTOK, 17 July: An accident on 14 July, involving an ambulance claimed the life of one person. The ambulance, a Tata Sumo [SK-04P-2217], of the NHPC Rangeet Nagar, fell off the road into the Rangeet taking with it the driver and two other passengers. The driver, LB Chettri, is reported to have succumbed to his injuries. 
The accident took place at Champa, about four and a half kilometers from the Melli police station. The ambulance was returning from Siliguri to Rangeet Nagar when it met with accident at around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday evening. The vehicle, it is learnt fell down around 80 feet and landed in the river. The Melli Police Station was informed in time and a team led by SI Kessang Bhutia and cincluding Constables Chogyal Lepcha, Santa Kumar Rai and Aita Hang Subba and Home Guards Bir Bahadur Rai and Yog Bahadur Gurung rushed to the spot and mounted the rescue effort.
When they reached the spot, the three occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, were still inside the ambulance which itself was in the Rangeet.
All the three victims were rushed to the Melli PHC for treatment. One of the passengers, Amit Pandey, was referred on to Siliguri for treatment while B. Pandey received first aid for the minor injuries sustained. Unfortunately the driver, LB Chettri, succumbed to his injuries at the PHC at around 6:50 PM the same day. All three were NHPC employees stationed at Rangeet Nagar.

SBI gifts VHAS an ambulance, TVs for Field Hospital

GANGTOK, 18 March: State Bank of India has donated an ambulance to the Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim [VHAS] under its Community Service Banking Initiative to augment the organisation’s efforts towards promotion and development of community health here. The Managing Director, National Banking Group,
SBI Corporate Centre, Mumbai, A Krishna Kumar, handed over the keys of the ambulance to the VHAS Executive Director, Dr BB Rai, yesterday. In his address, Mr Kumar informed that as the leading bank in the country, SBI has not only been doing banking but also helping out the people and the community through various initiatives. He informed that the SBI has been consistently assisting organizations working in the field of education and health, especially among the rural masses.
He further mentioned that SBI has 31 branches in Sikkim and encouraged the VHAS to continue with their community services. Dr Rai of VHAS in turn assured to continue with their community services especially in the rural areas. He assured the donated ambulance will always be kept ready in service for the people and announced that VHAS also plans to establish a good hospital in the state.
SBI Chief General Manager [Bengal Circle], Surender Kumar, mentioned that the SBI was trying to provide maximum benefits to the rural people in the state through its community services. He informed that annually the SBI earmarked 1% of its profit for such community service.
Earlier in the day, senior SBI official, led by the Managing Director, visited Nathula for two other social welfare programmes under which the SBI has released financial assistance of Rs One Lakh to the 63 Mountain Brigade for the renovation of the Sherathang War Memorial and also donated 32 LCD television sets for the 317 Field Army Hospital located near the Nathula border.