The Area Police Office in Chandranigahapur on Saturday confiscated three ambulances that were allegedly carrying passengers along the East West Highway. Of the three ambulances, two are privately owned and one belongs to the Nepal Red Cross Society in Hirapur.

Police confiscated one of the ambulances from the Paurahi section of the highway where it was carrying six passengers, police said. Krishna Lama, the driver, admitted to have carried the passengers from Kathmandu to Harion for Rs 12000, according to the police.

“We have learned that many ambulances have been carrying passengers instead of patients during the lockdown,” DSP Hem Bahadur Shahi of Rautahat police said. “These are sensitive times and taking advantage of this situation is problematic.” The ambulance, the driver and the passengers are currently in police custody.

In another instance, an ambulance owned by the Red Cross Society was found taking passengers from Barthahwa to Birgunj, Shahi said. The driver, Shivakumar Yadav, has denied misusing the vehicle saying the family he was carrying had an emergency as their child was sick in Birgunj.

The police have confiscated another ambulance that was also carrying passengers from Nawalpur to Birgunj, and has taken its driver, Raj Mohammed Miya, in custody.

“We have noticed a surge of ambulances on the road during the lockdown,” Shahi said.

Meanwhile, Rautahat Police have said they are monitoring the movement of ambulances as many are found to be carrying passengers to make quick money. From now on, ambulances that need to carry patients need to notify the police before being on the road, police said.