Balasore: A 22-year-old snakebite victim allegedly died on Thursday morning after an ambulance carrying her to the hospital was stuck in traffic for 40 minutes during a Ganesh immersion procession at Khaira block in Balasore district.
The deceased has been identified as Kasturi, the youngest daughter of Gangaram Das, a resident of Nahanga village under Khaira block.
According to reports, Kasturi was bitten by a venomous snake when she was on her way home after visiting Ganesh puja pandals on Wednesday evening. She was initially taken to the Khaira Hospital and then referred to the Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital. However, the ambulance was stuck in traffic due to the procession of Ganesh idol immersion, causing a significant delay in reaching the hospital in Bhadrak.
Despite the ambulance’s siren blaring, the crowd and police failed to clear the way, leading to a 40-minute delay. By the time she reached Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital, Kasturi’s condition worsened, and she was eventually shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where she succumbed to her injuries at 7 am on Thursday.
Kasturi’s family members, meanwhile, have expressed outrage over the incident, blaming the police’s failure to manage traffic and ensure a clear path for the ambulance. Her uncle, Lambodar Das, said, “My niece died due to the inability of police personnel to control the traffic.”
