Accident victim dies as ambulance runs out of fuel on the way
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 13 2011:
In a rare case of its kind and a showcase of inactive government ambulance service, a man seriously injured in an accident died when the ambulance which was shifting him to a hospital in Imphal stopped midway due as it ran out of fuel.
The ill-fated man who died on the way to a hospital in Imphal was being brought from Bishnupur District hospital.
He was identified as Laishram Bimolchandra (34) son of L Birmangol of Ningthoukhong ward no.III.
He was rushed to the district hospital after he sustained multiple injuries when his motorcycle was knocked down by a speeding passenger bus at Thinungei Kha Khunou along the Tiddim Road today around 10 am.
When his condition became critical doctors at the district hospital referred him to a hospital in Imphal.
Family members hired the ambulance of the district hospital and moved towards Imphal.
But the ambulance ran out of fuel and stopped at Ngaikhong Bazar.
Explaining that the vehicle had run out of fuel (diesel), the driver left with a bottle to search for diesel from nearby shops and came back with the fuel after half an hour.
After refueling, the ambulance proceeded towards Imphal considering that it would be better to admit the victim at Shija hospitals, Langol.
But the injured man breathed his last on the way much before reaching the hospital, according to the family of the deceased.
Doctors at Shija hospital declared him brought dead.
Alleging that no doctor or paramedical staff of the hospital accompanied the critical patient in the ambulance and complaining of the inefficient ambulance service, the family members lamented the poor humanitarian service in a government run hospital and call for the immediate attention of the authority concerned so that such ill-fated incidents do not repeat in the future.
Meanwhile, the Imphal-bound Canter bus (MN05-0365) coming from Churachandpur, involved in the knocking down Bimolchanda who was travelling on his motorcycle, has been seized by the police.
In yet another accident along the Tiddim road today, a man who came on a bicycle with a friend riding in the back died when he was knocked down by a speeding bus at Takhel Leikai along Tiddim Road today around 2.30 pm.
Pukhrambam Tomal son of Birchandra (38) was knocked down by the bus when he lost control while negotiating his cycle to avoid a pothole on the road.
Eyewitness accounts said that the bus knocked him down from the back while he was avoiding the pothole.
The pillion rider of the cycle escaped unhurt as he jumped off the cycle.
Tomal was a mason.
After knocking down Tomal, the driver of the bus (MNA-3584) and its occupants left the spot hurriedly, reports said.
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