Family stages protest outside hospital mortuary, demands action
A 20-year-old patient referred from Pali to Jodhpur died in an ambulance after the oxygen supply reportedly stopped midway. Following the incident, the family brought the body back to Bangad Hospital in Pali and staged a protest outside the mortuary on Sunday.
The family alleged that the patient died due to negligence by the ambulance driver.
According to officials, Sawan Kumar, a resident of Transport Nagar Naya Gaon Sansi Basti in Pali, was admitted to the ICU of Bangad Hospital on May 6 due to a kidney-related illness. As his condition worsened, doctors referred him to MDM Hospital in Jodhpur.
Oxygen supply stopped during journey
Family members said Sawan was shifted in a 108 ambulance with oxygen support. About 20 km into the journey, near the Om Banna temple area in Rohat police station limits, the oxygen supply from the cylinder stopped.
Sawan’s elder brother Devaram said they informed the ambulance driver, who told them another oxygen cylinder had been arranged. However, before help arrived, Sawan stopped breathing and died in his brother’s lap.
“We told the driver there was no point changing the cylinder after my brother had died,” Devaram said.
The family later brought the body back to Bangad Hospital and accused the driver of negligence.
Mother demands action
Relatives of the deceased staged a protest outside the mortuary demanding action in the case. Sawan’s mother, Lali Devi, said her son had gone to the hospital for treatment but lost his life because of negligence.
Family members said Sawan had been suffering from kidney problems for around six months and was undergoing dialysis twice a week at Bangad Hospital.
Ambulance manager cites technical issue
District Manager of the 108 ambulance service, Manthan Sharma, said the oxygen in the cylinder had not finished, but there was a problem with the cylinder’s thread, which affected the supply.
He said another oxygen cylinder was immediately sent from Rohat after the driver informed the control room. Officials said the matter is being investigated.
Protest ends after assurance of probe
TP Nagar police station Head Constable Balwanta Ram said police and hospital officials counselled the family members. After discussions, the family agreed to take the body without post-mortem and ended the protest.
Officials said the CMHO has ordered an inquiry into the incident and assured appropriate action if negligence is found.
