Mangaluru : For 43-year-old C.S. Radhika, life did not end with the sad demise of her husband when she was just 30.

She was left with her husband’s ambulance and two daughters aged seven and four when C.S. Suresh passed away in 2002.

Now residing at her own house at Kulaigudde, Ms. Radhika had learnt driving from her husband.

Ably encouraged by their driver Sunil Kumar, she sat behind the wheels and now is the owner of a fleet of 10 ambulances.

Mangalru Press Club aptly recognised Ms. Radhika’s achievement and chose her for its first Press Club award. The award carrying Rs. 10,001 in cash and citation was presented to her by Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police S.D. Sharanappa here on Tuesday.

Operating the ambulances under name Kaveri, Ms. Radhika bought the vehicles taking bank loans.

She used to buy a new vehicle after clearing the loan on the existing one and thus has become a fleet owner.

Besides herself driving one ambulance, she has employed seven drivers including Mr. Sunil Kumar.

A jury comprising former Kannada University Vice-Chancellor B.A. Vivek Rai, theatre personality Sadananda Suvarna and social activist Rita Naronha selected her for the award, according to sources.