Pune’s Trailblazing Female Ambulance Driver Leads the Way, Saving Lives During Covid and Beyond

As the only woman ambulance driver in Pune’s district, Anita Sanjay Gosavi, 45, is always on call, day or night. Her reputation is built on never refusing an emergency, a commitment she made to herself in 2020 during the Covid-19 outbreak. Today, she’s known for her dedication to her job, which didn’t always seem like a natural fit. Born and raised in a family of three ambulances, Gosavi used to be a homemaker and drive a tempo before the pandemic. When her neighbor tested positive, her family had to move to her brother’s house, who owned the ambulances, driven by him and two others.

When her brother tested positive, Gosavi suggested taking her place behind the wheel. “Main chalati hoon (I will come along),” she said. With the lockdown in effect, she had no choice but to adapt. “The Covid years were full of fear,” she recalls. “We felt that whoever went to the hospital never came back except packed in a bag. But there were no drivers for his ambulances. My brother said the road was dominated by men and it wasn’t safe. I said that if we think too much, we will never be able to do anything.”

Gosavi’s journey has been marked by a series of harrowing experiences. One of her most haunting memories is of an IT professional who wanted her to pick up his mother’s body from the hospital, where she had passed away due to Covid-19. The toll it took on him is evident, as he requested she conduct the funeral without his family present, citing his family and a child. “I was instructed to conduct his mother’s funeral. I was shocked because it is family members and loved ones who are present at the cremation of a deceased person,” she says.

Gosavi’s work also extends to collecting bodies from railway tracks, a task that often falls between 10 pm and 2 am. Her brother, who has driven an ambulance for 25-30 years, has never taken on this task. Gosavi, on the other hand, proudly takes up the challenge. “People see me and say, ‘Sherni aa gayi’ (The lioness has arrived),” she beams with pride.

Today, Gosavi is not only a beacon of hope for those in need but also an inspiration to her sister, who has been driving an ambulance for two years under her guidance. As she navigates the dark hours of the night, collecting the deceased and feeling the weight of her responsibility, Gosavi knows that her work is crucial. She is a shining example of the human spirit’s capacity to adapt, persevere, and make a difference in the face of adversity.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punes-only-woman-ambulance-driver-claimed-the-road-during-covid-and-continues-to-save-lives-9900724/
Category : India
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-03-23 04:35:00