The Hyderabad traffic police were in for a surprise on Tuesday when they stopped an ambulance with its siren blaring. Instead of a patient, they found a pet dog inside the vehicle.
The incident took place in Panjagutta during a special traffic drive. Police were checking for traffic violations and the unauthorized use of sirens when they noticed a speeding ambulance. Upon stopping the vehicle, they discovered that the driver was transporting a dog instead of a seriously ill person.
The driver, Laxminarayana, admitted that he was taking the dog from Himayathnagar to a veterinary hospital in Madinaguda for a sterilization procedure. Since the siren was being misused, the police seized the ambulance and filed a case against him.
Officials reminded the public that sirens should only be used in life-threatening situations or for seriously ill patients. A study by the Hyderabad Traffic Police last year revealed that ambulance sirens in the city are used for genuine emergencies only 49% of the time.
