The North Chennai regional transport office recently provided a special driving license to K Thansean, a 31-year-old resident of Vyasarpadi, Chennai. Thansean, who lost both his arms below the elbow due to an electric accident in childhood received the license following a fitness assessment conducted by government doctors.
On April 22, Thansen made history as the first double-hand amputee to acquire a driving license in Tamil Nadu. The Chennai North Regional Transport Office (RTO) issued him a 10-year license to operate a modified car following certification of his fitness by doctors at the Institute of Rehabilitation.
The doctors at Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in KK Nagar watched a looping video clip on their phones, showing Thansen K using his stumps to turn the car key before smoothly sliding into his red Swift. Cheers erupted as the 30-year-old, who lost both his hands in an accident, skillfully fastened his seat belt, positioned his foot on the steering wheel, and confidently drove off, as per a report on Times of India.
Earlier, Thansean achieved his lifelong dream of driving a car after enrolling in a driving school and mastering driving with his legs. Currently, he's honing his skills to ride a bike, aiming to secure a license soon.
Thansean is also pursuing his Master of Laws at Dr Ambedkar Government Law College.
Thansen's achievement has not only served as inspiration for others with disabilities but has also contributed to the development of a new protocol for fitness certification by doctors.
In 2016, a 45-year-old motivational speaker Vikram Agnihotri from Indore who had a double amputee received his driving license. Vikram used his leg to drive the car and became the first person to get a driving license by controlling the vehicle with his leg.