Odisha: Patient dies after ambulance breaks down during hospital transfer

The deceased has been identified as Prakash Kumar Kandi, who was being shifted from the Cuttack-based SCB Medical College and Hospital to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. The incident occurred on the bridge over the Kathajodi River, just outside Cuttack city.

According to the TNIE media news report, Kandi had been undergoing treatment after allegedly consuming poison. As his condition became critical, he was being shifted to Bhubaneswar.

Following his death, family members alleged that the ambulance had run out of fuel. They alleged that the ambulance suddenly came to a halt in the middle of the bridge because it ran out of fuel. They claimed that the patient died as a result of this delay.

The deceased's elder brother, Vibhuti Bhushan Kandi, lodged an FIR at the Derabish Police Station, following which the body was taken into custody and sent to the Kendrapara Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

However, the police ruled out the possibility of the ambulance running out of fuel and attributed the incident to a technical glitch.

“There was sufficient fuel in the vehicle, which broke down due to a mechanical defect in the gearbox,” said additional IIC of Cuttack Sadar police station, Sushant Pani.

Pani, who conducted the preliminary investigation, stated that neither the driver nor the owner of the private ambulance was found near the vehicle.

Meanwhile, Cuttack's Chief District Medical Officer, Dr Prashant Kumar Hota, stated that an investigation into this incident has been initiated, and a detailed report has been sought from the ambulance operator.