Man dies in stranded ambulance; family claims it ran out of fuel

Cuttack/Kendrapada: A 27-year-old man died in an ambulance while being shifted from SCB Medical College and Hospital to a private facility in Bhubaneswar on Friday, with his family alleging the vehicle was forced to stop midway on Kathajodi bridge after running out of fuel. The ambulance driver, however, claimed it was a mechanical failure.

The deceased, Prakash Kumar Tandi of Kendrapada, had been admitted to SCB in critical condition after allegedly consuming poison. As his health deteriorated, he was referred to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment.

Biswabhusan Kandi, elder brother of the deceased, said he was with his brother in the ambulance along with other family members when the vehicle came to a halt. “The driver assured he will arrange fuel or another ambulance. But nothing happened and we waited on the bridge for 45 minutes,” Biswabhusan said.

He further claimed that the oxygen support inside the ambulance had also stopped after the vehicle ran out of fuel, leaving the patient without emergency medical assistance during the transfer.

Dismissing the allegations, a representative of the private ambulance service said the vehicle had developed a technical snag. “After the driver informed us, a mechanic checked the ambulance and confirmed a mechanical fault. There was sufficient fuel,” the representative said.

Cuttack chief district medical officer Prasant Kumar Hota said an inquiry has been ordered.