‘Traffic Heroine’ Battles Cancer

Ghaziabad: Doris Francis, the name synonymous with traffic management at a busy intersection in Ghaziabad since 2010 is battling cancer and responding to news reports the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has come to her aid on Friday.

On the fateful day of 2010, Doris was travelling with her daughter, Nikki in an autorickshaw in Ghaziabad when a speeding car hit their vehicle killing her daughter. However, Doris managed to escape with injuries. After recovering from that accident, Doris had been guiding traffic at the very spot where her daughter died each day without fail.

It is said that the chaoitic traffic on the busy stretch in Ghaziabad becomes disciplined and falls into line everyday when Doris takes position at the traffic intersection. Local traffic police, who know her tragic story, are appreciative of her efforts. A traffic constable at the busy junction even mentioned that, "it is amazing how she comes every day to the accident spot to manage traffic just to ensure another precious life is not lost to reckless driving."

She once told the BBC, “"It's been more than six years since I started. My mission was to save lives and not let any mother lose her daughter, husband or son. And that's what I have been doing and I will continue to do until I have strength in my body."

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sanctioned Rs 3 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund for treatment of Doris Francis who is suffering from cancer and is admitted to AIIMS. The PMO said the sanction was granted after it took cognizance of a news regarding services rendered by Francis and her sickness due to cancer. The hospital authorities have been requested to provide utmost care to the patient, the PMO said in a statement.