Satna, Madhya Pradesh: A 67-year-old man died after the rear door of a 108 emergency ambulance carrying him failed to open at the gate of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, delaying urgent medical care. The incident, which occurred on January 26, has raised serious questions about emergency preparedness and ambulance maintenance in the district.
The patient, identified as Ram Prasad, was brought to the hospital in a critical condition. However, moments after the ambulance arrived, its rear door became jammed, trapping him inside as precious time slipped away.
Eyewitnesses described a frantic scene at the hospital entrance. Relatives, passersby, and hospital staff tried repeatedly to force the door open using their hands and feet. The ambulance driver attempted to reach the patient through a side window as the situation grew increasingly desperate.
The family said that people surrounding the ambulance were struggling with the stuck door and shouting for help. Despite sustained efforts, the delay proved fatal. Once the door was finally opened and the patient was taken inside, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
According to family members, Ram Prasad fell ill earlier that morning while warming himself near a fire outside his home in Ramnagar, a town in Satna district. He suddenly lost consciousness, prompting his family to rush him to the Ramnagar Community Health Centre.
Doctors at the community health center provided initial treatment but found his condition too critical to manage locally. They referred him to the district hospital and arranged for a 108 emergency ambulance to transfer him for advanced care.
The ambulance reached the hospital premises without reported delay. The fatal obstacle arose only after arrival, when the jammed door prevented immediate access to medical staff and equipment.
Following the incident, Satna Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Manoj Shukla stated that the patient had already died before reaching the hospital. He confirmed that a notice had been issued to the district coordination officer to examine the circumstances surrounding the ambulance malfunction and fix responsibility.
Health authorities said an internal review is underway, though no immediate action against ambulance staff or hospital personnel has been announced.
(Rh/ARC)
