By Binu Shrestha

Kathmandu, Apr. 3: Buddha Krisha Baga Shrestha, a resident of Bode of Bhaktapur, who had pierced his tongue seven times, is now serving the suspected COVID-19 patients by carrying them to hospitals in ambulance.
By profession, Shrestha is an ambulance driver for 18 years. He has provided service and saved lives of many patients by bringing them to hospital at the right time.
But the present situation is different as the people across the world are fighting against the coronavirus, tongue piercer Shrestha has also been showing his solidarity with the people and nation by providing service of a separate ambulance to carry the virus affected persons.
Shrestha announced himself that he was ready to carry the virus suspects to the hospital.
Also the president of the Preservation Committee of Ambulance Driver Association, in which 36 ambulance operators are associated, Shrestha said, “I am doing my duty in this critical situation when the nation is fighting against global virus pandemic. I am always ready to carry the virus affected people in my ambulance.”
He said that he used two ambulances – one for general patients and another only for the coronavirus suspects.
He said he was ready to go to any part of the Kathmandu Valley to carry the virus affected people. “I am also ready to go outside the valley if necessary,” he added.
“My aim is to bring the virus affected people to the hospital from their home so that they could get timely treatment and live.”
No one should die at their home for failing to reach hospital in lack of ambulance service, he said.
Shrestha said that many ambulance drivers were not ready to carry virus affected people fearing the spread of virus.
“In such condition, anybody can call me at 9851153378,” he said.
It is time to serve the nation and people and provide an easy facility of ambulance to fight against the virus.
He said, “I use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) clothing to protect myself from virus infection when I carry such patient. Nepali Army has provided me four sets of protection gears,” he said.
The Nepali Army had provided PPEs for ambulance drivers of four municipalities.
Shrestha said that the association has provided PPE clothing to all ambulance drivers.
He also said that he was not ready to celebrate coming year’s tongue piercing festival in such a critical situation. It can be celebrated next year with much fanfare as in the past years.
“Our priority now should be to save the life of people and protect the nation from global pandemic COVID-19,” he said.
Juju Bhai Basan Shrestha, the eight-time tongue piercer of Bode, however, said the coming tongue piercing festival could be marked as it would fall a few days after the end of the second phase lockdown.
The government enforced the first seven-day lockdown on March 24 to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Nepal and extended it further until April 7.
With the famous tongue piercing festival of Bode, Bhaktapur aprocahing near, locals have been expressing their different views about the celebration of the festival. Some said it should be celebrated in a simple manner while others said it should not be celebrated, he said.
The famous festival falls on the 2nd day of Baishak month of New Year. It is believed late king Jagajyoti Mall started marking the festival and has been popular since then.