Ambulance Service in Pokhara — 24/7 Ambulance from KDRC

What is the KDRC ambulance service in Pokhara?

The KDRC ambulance service in Pokhara is a 24-hour, 7-day patient transport service run by Kaligandaki Diagnostic and Research Center from Shantipath, Amarsingh Chowk. One phone call to 9856077433 or 061-553538 is all it takes to request an ambulance, day or night, including public holidays. Families use it for medical emergencies, for moving patients between hospitals, for bringing bedbound or frail patients to a scan, and for taking patients home after treatment.

When someone in your family collapses, has a bad fall or suddenly cannot breathe properly, the most important thing is to get help moving quickly. People in Pokhara search for "ambulance number Pokhara" or "24 hour ambulance Pokhara" at exactly these moments. This page gives you the number first, then explains what to say on the phone, what to do while you wait, and how planned transfers work. Save our number in your phone today, so you do not have to search for it in an emergency.

What is the ambulance number in Pokhara?

The KDRC ambulance numbers in Pokhara are 9856077433 (mobile, also on Viber) and 061-553538 (landline), available 24 hours a day. From a phone registered outside Nepal, dial +977-9856077433 or +977-61553538. Nepal also has national emergency numbers. The UK government's official travel advice for Nepal lists them as follows.

It is sensible to save a full ten-digit mobile number such as 9856077433 as well, in case a short code does not connect from your network. If one number does not connect, try the next one straight away rather than waiting.

When should you call an ambulance?

You should call an ambulance whenever someone has a life-threatening problem or cannot safely travel by ordinary vehicle. Do not drive a person with chest pain or stroke signs to hospital yourself if an ambulance can reach you; NHS guidance specifically advises against driving yourself with these symptoms. Common reasons to call include:

• Collapse, unconsciousness or a person who is not responding normally.
• Severe chest pain, especially crushing or squeezing pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw.
• Stroke signs: a drooping face, a weak arm or slurred speech.
• Severe difficulty breathing.
• Serious injury from a road accident, fall or work accident.
• Heavy bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure.
• A seizure that does not stop, or a first-ever seizure.
• A frail, elderly or bedbound patient who needs to reach hospital and cannot sit in a car.

The table below summarises the warning signs of two time-critical emergencies, using NHS guidance. Recognising them early helps you act fast.

Call 9856077433, 061-553538 or 102 at once for collapse, crushing chest pain, stroke signs (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech), severe breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding or a seizure that will not stop. Do not drive yourself to hospital with chest pain or stroke symptoms.

How to call the KDRC ambulance

To call the KDRC ambulance, dial 9856077433 or 061-553538 and give the pick-up location, the patient's condition and a phone number that will stay switched on. Clear information is the fastest way to get help to the right place. Stay calm, speak slowly and answer the questions you are asked.

The details below are the ones our team usually needs. Keeping them ready saves valuable minutes.

Coverage and travel time depend on where you are and on road conditions. Tell us the location; our team will advise you honestly on the phone.

What to do while waiting for the ambulance

While waiting for the ambulance, keep the patient safe, keep them comfortable and keep watching their breathing. Simple steps from recognised first-aid guidance make a real difference.

• Unresponsive but breathing normally: St John Ambulance advises placing the person in the recovery position to keep the airway open and let vomit drain. If you suspect a spinal injury, keep the head and neck in line and move them only if you must.
• Chest pain: help the person sit down and rest, with knees bent and back supported, and loosen tight clothing. Give only medicines a doctor has already prescribed for this situation.
• Bleeding: press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth and keep pressing.
• Do not give food or drink to someone who is drowsy, confused or may need an operation.
• Prepare the way: send someone to the main road or a landmark to guide the ambulance; clear stairs and doorways.
• Gather documents: medicine list, previous reports, scan films, ID and phone charger.

If the person stops breathing or stops responding, start CPR if you know how, and tell the person on the phone immediately.

Emergency ambulance vs planned patient transfer

The KDRC ambulance handles both emergencies and planned transfers, and the main difference is timing and preparation. Emergencies need the vehicle as soon as possible; planned transfers can be booked in advance so the ambulance, the patient and the receiving team are all ready at the same time.

Hospital-to-hospital transfers

Patients in Pokhara are often referred from one hospital to another for higher-level care, specialist treatment or admission. Ask the treating doctor for the referral letter, discharge summary and recent reports before the ambulance arrives. Tell us the receiving hospital and ward when you call. For journeys outside Pokhara, call to discuss the destination and timing; our team will advise what is possible.

Transport for scans at KDRC

Many patients who need a CT scan, MRI or ultrasound are bedbound, elderly or recovering from surgery. Our ambulance can bring them to the centre and take them home afterwards. Call ahead so the scan slot and the vehicle can be timed together, which keeps waiting to a minimum. For some patients, a scan at home with our mobile ultrasound team may be easier still.

Discharge transport home

After a hospital stay, some patients cannot sit in a taxi or climb into a jeep. Ambulance transport home on a stretcher is safer and more comfortable for them. Book it as soon as the discharge time is known.

Ambulance transport for elderly, pregnant and bedbound patients

Elderly, pregnant and bedbound patients often need ambulance transport even when the situation is not an emergency, because ordinary vehicles cannot carry them safely. Tell us about mobility, weight, oxygen needs at home, catheters, drips or recent surgery when you call, so our team can advise on the best way to move the patient. Equipment and staffing needs differ from patient to patient; please ask our team about them for your specific case rather than assuming.

For pregnant women with heavy bleeding, severe tummy pain, fits, severe headache with blurred vision, or waters breaking early, treat it as an emergency and go to a maternity hospital without delay. For routine pregnancy scans such as the anomaly scan, ambulance transport is normally needed only if the mother cannot travel otherwise. Patients going home with a urinary catheter can also be transported, and our team can help with catheter insertion and changes at the centre.

Ambulance or private vehicle: which is right?

An ambulance is the right choice when the patient is seriously unwell, cannot sit upright, may get worse on the way, or needs to lie flat; a private vehicle or taxi can be fine for someone who is stable and able to walk and sit. Many families in Pokhara hesitate to call an ambulance because they are not sure the situation is "serious enough". The table below gives a simple, general guide. When in doubt, call us and describe the situation; our team will advise.

If a patient's condition changes on the way in a private vehicle, such as new confusion, fainting or worsening pain, stop safely and call for an ambulance rather than continuing.

How can families in Pokhara prepare before an emergency happens?

The best time to prepare for a medical emergency is before it happens: save the numbers, write down key health information and agree who will do what. A few minutes of preparation at home can save precious time later.

• Save the numbers: put 9856077433 and 061-553538 in every family member's phone under a clear name such as "Ambulance KDRC", and remember 102.
• Write your address the way a driver would need it: tole, ward number, the nearest well-known chowk, and a landmark such as a school, temple or shop.
• Keep a health sheet: for older relatives, keep a one-page list of illnesses, medicines, allergies and the usual doctor or hospital, together with recent reports.
• Know the route: if your house is up a narrow lane or stairs, decide in advance where the ambulance can stop and how the patient can be carried to it.
• Agree on roles: one person calls, one stays with the patient and one goes to guide the ambulance.

Families looking after a bedbound relative with a urinary catheter, recent surgery or long-term illness benefit most from this kind of planning, because they are more likely to need transport for check-ups and scans.

How much does an ambulance cost in Pokhara?

The cost of an ambulance in Pokhara depends mainly on the distance to the destination, and also on waiting time and whether the journey is a single trip or a return. KDRC keeps its ambulance rates reasonable and quotes them per journey rather than listing fixed prices, because every trip is different. Please call 9856077433 or 061-553538 for the current price to your destination. In an emergency, call first; questions about cost can be answered on the way.

Why choose the KDRC ambulance in Pokhara?

The KDRC ambulance is linked to a full diagnostic centre, so transport, imaging and reporting can be planned together in one place. That connection is the main reason families and referring doctors choose it.

• Available 24/7: the ambulance service runs around the clock, every day of the year, including nights and holidays.
• One call: the same numbers handle emergencies, planned transfers and scan transport.
• Imaging on arrival: patients brought to KDRC can have CT on our 192-slice Siemens scanner, open-type MRI, HD ultrasound or Doppler in the same building.
• Specialist reporting: scans are reported by our consultant radiologists Dr. Bishworaj Bastakoti and Dr. Nawaraj Paudel; meet them on the doctors page.
• Support for referring hospitals: our teleradiology service helps hospitals get scans reported remotely.
• Reasonable, distance-based pricing: quoted honestly over the phone.

Where is KDRC and how do I reach the ambulance team?

KDRC is located at Shantipath, Amarsingh Chowk, Pokhara-10, Kaski, and the ambulance team can be reached on 9856077433 or 061-553538 at any hour. You can also email kaligandaki.dc@gmail.com for non-urgent questions about planned transfers, though for anything time-sensitive a phone call is always faster.

For directions, a map and other ways to contact us, visit the contact page. To book a scan that the ambulance will bring a patient to, use the appointment form or simply mention it when you call. You can also see all of our diagnostic services.

Important safety note

This page gives general information and is not medical advice. In any life-threatening emergency, call for help immediately using whichever number connects first, KDRC on 9856077433 or 061-553538 or the national ambulance number 102, and follow the instructions you are given. The World Health Organization describes pre-hospital and facility-based emergency care as a high-impact, cost-effective part of health care, and the first step is always the same: call early and give a clear location.