At a time the world faces coronavirus pandemic, a Golaghat-based doctor has set an example by not only attending to a patient who had fever, but also taking him to a hospital in his car.

The medical and health officer at Merapani Rural Hospital, 26 km from Golaghat town, Dr. Prasanta Pratim Gogoi, took the 21-year-old who was referred to Golaghat civil hospital for fever and cough in his vehicle as there was no alternative.

Gogoi told this correspondent that the youth from Sarupani, 46km from Golaghat town on the Assam-Nagaland border, came to him on Monday for a check-up.

He reached Guwahati from Mumbai on March 16 with fever. Gogoi referred him to the Golaghat civil hospital for tests.

He called 108 ambulance service, but they turned down his request.

Gogoi also requested the hospital for an ambulance and called up other private ambulance services. He was ready to pay higher fare, but no one dared to carry the patient and his father.

“All of them panicked and said they were not well equipped to carry such patients,” Gogoi said.

Finally, he took them to the civil hospital in his personal car.

The youth’s blood sample was collected and sent for test on Monday evening. The test report is awaited.

On getting the information, deputy commissioner Bibhash Ch. Modi asked the coordinator of 108 service in Golaghat to look into the matter.

Complete lockdown: The lockdown imposed by the Assam government was complete in Golaghat district on Wednesday.

To make essential commodities available, the groceries are exempt from the lockdown order.