KATHMANDU: Police here have impounded an ambulance that was allegedly carrying a fake patient as its passenger.

According to the District Police Office, Kavrepalanchowk, Jugatlal Mahato, the resident of Chandranagar Rural
Municipality-3 in Sarlahi district, also the driver of the ambulance with registration no Ba 5 Cha 8638 was held today morning from Sanga in Kavrepalanchowk.

The ambulance belongs to the Social Development and Environment Conservation Association, Babargunj in Sarlahi.
DSP Kumar Bikram Thapa said that police nabbed the ambulance driver for misusing the facility by carrying fake patients. “There were altogether eight passengers inside the ambulance. When we interrogated them, we found out they were masquerading as patients,” shared DSP Thapa.

The arrested driver along with the passengers has been sent to Sarlahi district for necessary action.

The government has eased the lockdown since June 15, allowing the private vehicles to ply the roads on basis of even-odd number plate. Essential services such as fire brigade and ambulances and other essential supplies, however, were permitted at the times of strict lockdown enforcement.

It has been revealed that the ambulance driver had charged the passengers Rs 14,000 in total as fare from Sarlahi to Kathmandu. Further investigation into the case was underway after keeping the arrested ones in custody, police said.