When tragedy struck CS Radhika’s life in 2002, few would have imagined that the grieving homemaker from Mangaluru would one day run a fleet of ambulances across multiple states. Widowed at just 30 after her husband died of liver cancer, Radhika turned her pain into purpose by taking over the ambulance he once drove and building it into a successful emergency service business.
Today, Radhika operates the Cauvery Ambulance Service, which reportedly runs 12 ambulances and provides emergency transport services across Karnataka and beyond.
Back then, however, her situation was far from hopeful. Radhika’s husband, Suresh, had been the family’s sole breadwinner before succumbing to cancer after a two-year battle. Educated only till Class 6, Radhika was suddenly
left alone to raise her two daughters, Bhoomika and Bhargavi, who were just seven and four years old at the time. But amid the grief, one thing stayed with her: the ambulance her husband used to drive.
Speaking about her unexpected journey, Radhika said she had learned driving “purely out of interest” while watching her husband work. That skill eventually became her lifeline.
“I never thought that the ambulance would help me earn for my family,” she told The News Minute.
Encouraged by family friends and armed with determination, she obtained a driving licence and restarted the ambulance service. Her earlier experience working as a hospital assistant in Puttur also helped her understand first aid and emergency care, making locals trust her capabilities.
Soon, calls started pouring in.
Whether it was transporting patients to hospitals, moving bodies across states, or handling late-night emergency calls, Radhika did it all. She often travelled hundreds of kilometres at a stretch, sometimes leaving her daughters with relatives while she worked through the night.
“I cater to all types of requirements,” she said, including interstate transfers and mortuary services.
What began with a single ambulance gradually grew into a full-fledged service. Radhika took loans, added more vehicles, hired drivers, and expanded operations steadily over the years. Her daughters, now grown up, also help manage the business while pursuing their own careers and education.
Radhika’s relentless spirit has also earned her recognition, including the Mangaluru Press Club Award for service to society.
In a world where many crumble under personal loss, Radhika chose to steer through it literally. And in doing so, she not only rebuilt her life but also became a symbol of resilience for countless women across India.
