A tragic incident has come to light in Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh, due to alleged negligence by a government ambulance. 21-year-old Ajit Baraiya died while being taken to the hospital. The family alleges that the ambulance ran out of oxygen on the way, causing Ajit to gasp for breath and die in his father’s arms. Following this incident, allegations of negligence have been raised, and the district administration has ordered an investigation.
The deceased, Ajit Baraiya, was a resident of Sunehra Mal village in the Bamhni police station area. He had been suffering from kidney disease for a long time and was undergoing regular dialysis at the Mandla District Hospital.
What information did the family give?
According to family members, Ajit’s health suddenly worsened on July 27th. He was then taken to the Bamhni Community Health Center (CHC). Doctors there put him on oxygen support and referred him to Mandla District Hospital for better treatment.
The family alleges that despite calling the 108 ambulance several times, it arrived nearly an hour late. They repeatedly informed the ambulance service that the patient’s condition was critical and he needed constant oxygen. The family says that the ambulance initially had oxygen available, but the cylinder ran out before reaching the hospital. Ajit then began to gasp for breath and died on the way in his father’s arms.
What did Ajit’s father say?
Ajit’s father said, “My son gasped for air until his last breath. He died before reaching Mandla. If he had oxygen, my son would still be alive. The ambulance arrived after about an hour. I kept insisting that he needed oxygen immediately. If necessary, I would have even arranged for an oxygen cylinder from Bamhni myself.”
What allegations did the family make?
The family also alleges that despite Ajit’s condition continuing to deteriorate, their request to reschedule his dialysis was not met. They say that considerable time was wasted in referring him to the district hospital.
What steps is the administration taking?
Mandla Collector Rahul Namdev has formed a four-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident. Calling the incident unfortunate, he said the committee includes doctors and a revenue department official, and has been instructed to submit its investigation report as soon as possible.
Collector Rahul Namdev said, “There are government guidelines for the operation of Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances. The investigation will see whether all the rules were followed. If any negligence or violation of rules is confirmed, strict action will be taken against those responsible.”
According to officials, the investigation will examine the treatment provided to the patient, the maintenance, operation, and protocols of the 108 ambulance service, including whether the mandatory oxygen cylinder checks were performed before the ambulance was dispatched.