Oxygen Supply Allegedly Exhausted Before Replacement Vehicle Arrived
A 35-year-old patient died on Friday after the ambulance transporting him from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar reportedly broke down midway, with family members alleging that the oxygen supply ran out before another vehicle could reach the spot.
The deceased has been identified as Prakash Kumar Kandi, who was undergoing treatment after allegedly consuming poison. As his condition deteriorated, doctors reportedly referred him to a higher medical facility in Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment.
The incident occurred on the bridge over the Kathajodi River, located on the outskirts of Cuttack city.
Family Alleges Ambulance Ran Out of Fuel
According to family members, the ambulance suddenly stopped in the middle of the bridge during the transfer. They alleged that the vehicle had run out of fuel, causing a critical delay in treatment and oxygen support.
The patient’s elder brother, Vibhuti Bhushan Kandi, lodged an FIR at Derabish Police Station after the incident. Following the complaint, authorities took custody of the body and sent it to Kendrapara Hospital for post-mortem examination.
The incident has sparked outrage among the family, who blamed negligence during the emergency transfer for the patient’s death.
Police Deny Fuel Exhaustion Claim, Cite Mechanical Failure
However, police officials rejected the allegation that the ambulance had run out of fuel. According to the preliminary investigation, the vehicle reportedly developed a mechanical fault.
Additional Inspector-in-Charge of Cuttack Sadar Police Station, Sushant Pani, stated that there was sufficient fuel in the ambulance and that the vehicle stopped due to a gearbox malfunction.
“There was sufficient fuel in the vehicle, which broke down due to a mechanical defect in the gearbox,” the police officer said.
Police further stated that neither the ambulance driver nor the vehicle owner was present near the ambulance when officials reached the spot.
Health Authorities Order Probe Into Incident
Meanwhile, Cuttack Chief District Medical Officer Dr Prashant Kumar Hota confirmed that an inquiry into the incident has been initiated.
Health authorities have reportedly sought a detailed report from the ambulance operator regarding the circumstances leading to the breakdown and the alleged disruption in oxygen support during the patient transfer.
The incident has once again raised concerns over emergency medical transportation systems, ambulance maintenance, and accountability in critical patient transfers across Odisha.
