State Health Ministry Deploys Bike Ambulances Along Wari Routes. Here’s What They Do And How To Act

As Ashadi Ekadashi approaches on July 6, 2025, lakhs of devotees of Lord Vitthal and Lord Rukhmini participate in the yearly pilgrimage. To prepare for this, the state health minister Prakash Abitkar held a meeting to review all the preparations set in place at Pandharpur, Solapur. The department has decided to deploy bike ambulances, cardiac ambulances and ICUs along the wari routes for people going to the temple town of Pandharpur. The minister has also mentioned that there will be 24 cardiac ambulances, 300 regular ambulances, 22 ICUs, mobile clinics and bike ambulances all along the Warkari route.

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Bike ambulances, as the name suggests are motorcycles that are equipped with medical equipment that may be used in an emergency. The two-wheeler is easier to navigate in heavy traffic, through congested areas, or difficult terrains where normal ambulances might not be able to reach. Bike ambulances are mobile first aid units equipped with essential supplies like basic life support, oxygen cylinders and first aid kits. They are operated by trained paramedics or emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and are used only as the first point of contact for stabilizing the patients before a larger ambulance comes for rescue and transports them to a hospital.

The dispatchers receive the emergency call and assess the location. If it is an area where a bike ambulance will be beneficial, they immediately send one. The bike then speeds to the scene. This is often faster than a traditional ambulance, especially in traffic. The paramedic or EMT on the bike ambulance then assesses the condition of the patient and provides necessary first aid (like wound care, oxygen, or splinting), while monitoring the patient's vital signs. This continues till a larger ambulance arrives to transport the patient to a hospital for further treatment.

Usually, bike ambulances are used at events like concerts, marathons or pilgrimages to provide immediate medical assistance to those who may need it.