Chennai: Driving ambulance at high speed on busy roads is no more a men’s domain. For, a woman was appointed as an ‘108’ ambulance driver in Tamilnadu, for the first time in the country.

M Veeralakshmi was appointed driver of one of the newly launched ‘108” ambulances. The 30-year-old was earlier working as cab driver.

“I applied for the job since there was a vacancy and I felt I could clear the interview. Only later I came to know I am the first woman in the field,” says the mother of two.

As cab driver, Veeralakshmi was driving around Chennai for the past four years. But, her job as ambulance driver will take her back to her native district of Theni and she is happy about it.

“I will now be able to serve people in my native place. I understand that the job comes with huge challenges and I am ready to face them. I am confident of doing my work in an efficient manner,” she says with a smile.