Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Sunday flagged off 24 state-of-the-art ambulances from the premises of the Chief Minister’s official residence in Agartala, marking a significant step toward strengthening Tripura’s emergency healthcare system.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Saha said the addition of Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances would greatly benefit critically ill patients across the state, particularly in emergency and trauma situations.

The Chief Minister noted that patients often face serious difficulties during transportation to hospitals, especially when advanced life-support systems are unavailable. “Many times, due to the absence of ALS or BLS facilities during transit, patients lose their lives on the way to the hospital. These ambulances have been introduced to ensure that critically ill patients receive timely medical support while being transported,” he said.

According to Dr. Saha, the ambulances—manufactured by Tata—cost approximately ₹24–25 lakh each, with the state government spending around ₹5 to ₹5.5 crore on the fleet.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the Health portfolio, said the new service represents another milestone in strengthening the state’s healthcare infrastructure. “Our government is committed to ensuring that there are no gaps in healthcare services. With the addition of these ambulances, another important feather has been added to Tripura’s health system,” he said, while thanking the Health Department and officials for their efforts.

Out of the 24 ambulances, four will be integrated with the 102 emergency service for mothers and children, while the remaining vehicles will be deployed at trauma care centres across the state to enhance emergency response.

These modern ambulances are equipped with high-quality stretchers and trolleys that can be easily operated by a single person, allowing patients to be lifted and transported smoothly. The vehicles will also have trained medical personnel on board to provide essential primary care during transit, including support for blood circulation and respiration until patients reach hospitals.

Dr. Saha dedicated the ambulances to the people of Tripura, stating that anyone in need of emergency medical assistance will be able to access the service when required.

The programme was attended by Health Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, the Director of Health Services, and other senior officials from the department.