Police Launch 'Operation Toofan' to Curb Drug Use Among Bus and Ambulance Drivers
The police have intensified surveillance on inter-state bus drivers and ambulance operators following complaints that some personnel may have been consuming or transporting synthetic drugs while on duty. The move comes after passengers alerted authorities to suspicious behaviour among bus crew members.
According to police sources, a recent rise in cases involving synthetic drug use among transport workers has raised concerns about passenger safety. A senior police officer stated that the ongoing special drive, codenamed 'Operation Toofan', is part of a multi-layered action plan aimed at ensuring long-term public safety. Sector-wise interventions, including the latest targeting drivers, will continue under a result-oriented plan.
Enhanced drug screening for drivers on duty will form the core of the action plan. Tip-offs from bus passengers will receive immediate attention. Joint enforcement squads comprising officials from the Motor Vehicles Department, Excise, and the Railway Protection Force will assist the police.
In the case of ambulance operators, the police noted particular concern given the critical nature of the service. Multiple reports, including those by the Active Networked Group of Emergency Life Savers (ANGELS), have previously flagged suspected drug use among some ambulance drivers. A medical practitioner formerly associated with ANGELS said comprehensive reports and action plans submitted to the government had failed to elicit an immediate response, attributing the delay to a lack of awareness of the worsening situation.
An emergency medical technician from a private medical college hospital in Kozhikode emphasised that emergency vehicle operators cannot afford a casual approach as they are first responders in life-or-death situations. He added that individuals with a history of substance abuse must be permanently barred from the field through rigorous screening protocols.
Meanwhile, Mahesh Kunnel, an ambulance driver from Kayakkodi, stated that the majority of drivers work professionally and responsibly. He noted that a few cases among drivers should not be highlighted to downgrade the service of committed operators.
