BHOPAL: A three-year-old child, being brought to a Bhopal hospital from Guna, died midway allegedly because the oxygen in her ambulance ran out on Friday.
The toddler’s distraught kin alleged that even the backup cylinder was empty and the child gasped to death before they could reach Biaora Civil Hospital. The ambulance driver threw their bag out of the vehicle and took away her medical documents when they were in Biaora hospital, trying to save her, the family says.
The girl was from Patna village in Dharnawada area of Guna. Her family took her to the district hospital on Friday, where doctors referred her to Bhopal due to her critical condition. Halfway into the journey, when the ambulance was 5km short of Biaora, the oxygen cylinder ran out, says the family.
Cong attacks govt over girl’s death
They diverted to Biaora Civil Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Police said they conducted the child’s post-mortem after being alerted by Biaora Civil Hospital. The case diary will be sent to the relevant police station.
“The family alleges that the girl died due to lack of oxygen in the ambulance. Cause of death will be clear once the post-mortem report is received,” said an officer. The family demands action against the ambulance driver.
PCC chief Jitu Patwari shared this heart-breaking incident on X and called it ‘state murder’ (sarkari hatya). Tagging the PM and CM, Patwari tweeted: “A three-year-old girl who was referred to Bhopal from Rajgarh District Hospital died due to lack of oxygen in the ambulance! The ambulance staff left the girl at the gate of Biaora Civil Hospital and ran away. Neither did they give a referral slip nor did they admit the girl who was fighting for life. Those who are supposed to save lives are taking the lives of innocents. No investigation, no punishment, no compensation for jungle raj can heal the torn hearts of the victims. When will these murders stop?”
Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh tweeted: “Madhya Pradesh govt claims to have all the facilities in the health sector but the entire system is in a bad state on the ground. Who will take responsibility for the death of an innocent child due to the lack of oxygen in the ambulance? How will the CM improve MP’s crumbling health system?”
