Mangaluru: The 73-year-old owner of a roadside hotel in Charmadi Ghat, Charmadi Hasanabba, used proceeds of Rajyotsava award, to buy a new ambulance to serve accident victims. District in charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao flagged off the service of the new ambulance in Mangaluru on Friday, January 12.

Hasanabba said for over five decades since opening of the hotel in the ghat he has been using his car to take accident victims from the ghat to nearest health centre. He was among the few that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently conferred Rajyotsava award on November 1, 2023.

“I used Rs 5 lakh of the award amount andRs 3 lakh from the Charmadi Hasanabba Charitable Trust, for purchase of the ambulance. I will use this to take accident victims free of cost to the nearest Government health facility,” Hasanabba told.

Hasanabba hoped that his conduct would inspire more persons to contribute towards improving facilities at government health care centres.

Appreciating the benevolent action of Hasanabba, Rao said the State government has rightly selected the elderly Hasanabba for the award.