Bhubaneswar: The agency operating 108 ambulance services in Kalahandi has suspended the on-duty ambulance driver and cluster leader following the death of 11-year-old Riya Nayak during an inter-facility transfer in Kalahandi district on Thursday.
The action was taken amid public outrage over the functioning of emergency healthcare services following the incident.
Riya Nayak of Tulapada village under Narla block had been admitted to Narla CHC with complaints of high fever and severe stomach pain, and her condition had reportedly deteriorated.
According to a clarification issued by the ambulance operating agency, a call was received at 9:32 am from Narla Community Health Centre for shifting a patient to Kalahandi District Headquarters Hospital at Bhawanipatna. An ambulance from Rupra PHC was assigned at 9:37 am and it reached the spot at 10:01 am after covering 18 km.
The agency stated that at the time of boarding, the patient’s pulse was very low. While the ambulance was proceeding towards Kalahandi DHH, it suffered a rear tyre puncture near Chatikuda. The crew replaced the punctured tyre with the stepney after informing the Call Centre.
However, the agency said the stepney also got punctured subsequently due to low air pressure. The crew immediately informed the Call Centre again at 10:31 am and requested another ambulance.
Accordingly, a second ambulance was assigned from Kalahandi DHH at 10:36 am. It reached near the patient’s location at 11:11 am after crossing 24 km and transferred Riya to the district hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors declared her brought dead.
The agency said the suspension of the on-duty driver and cluster leader will remain in force until the inquiry is completed and the facts are established. It added that appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated based on the outcome of the investigation.
Earlier media reports had alleged that the critically ill girl died following a delay of nearly three hours in reaching the hospital after the 108 ambulance transporting her broke down due to a tyre puncture near the Gohirapadar railway crossing.
Those reports also claimed that the ambulance’s spare tyre was found to be defective and that no alternative transport was arranged immediately, leaving the patient stranded on the roadside before another ambulance shifted her to DHH.
