Overview

• During a campaign meeting in Anaicut, Vellore, an ambulance tried to move through the gathering, interrupting Edappadi K Palaniswami’s speech.
• Palaniswami claimed the DMK has repeatedly routed empty ambulances through his events, told cadres to record registration numbers and file police complaints, and issued a warning to drivers.
• The 108 driver, Surendar, said he was on a call to pick up a patient, was forced through the crowd after a brief stop near the police station, and alleged cadres tore staff ID cards before police helped clear a path.
• Health Minister Ma Subramanian rejected the allegation, defended the 1,330-vehicle 108 service with typical 8–10 minute response times, and criticized threats toward medical personnel.
• EMRI officials said an elderly patient referred from Anaicut government hospital waited about 40 minutes for transport and that the ambulance was stuck near the rally for 20–30 minutes, while no independent evidence has been presented to support claims of deliberate routing.