Odisha: Pregnant woman dies on way to hospital after ambulance runs out of fuel

A pregnant woman died on her way to a hospital after a private ambulance carrying her ran out of fuel midway in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha on Saturday.

Chittaranjan Munda, the husband of the victim, hailing from Bangiribposi area of Mayurbhanj district, arranged a private ambulance to carry his pregnant wife to Baripada hospital after the local community health centre where she was previously admitted failed to provide any transport facility.

However, the hired private ambulance ran out of fuel and when he finally reached the hospital by taking another ambulance, the hospital authorities announced her dead. It took Chittaranjan Munda two hours to arrange the second ambulance after the previous one broke down midway.

Hospital authorities said that the woman died due to intense labour pain.

Munda said he admitted her to the community health centre after she started getting labour pain last night.

When her health condition became critical, the doctors at the local community health centre advised her family members to shift her to Baripada hospital. He, however, failed to get any ambulance when he called on 102 and 108 services of the government. After that, he hired a private ambulance to take her wife to Baripada hospital which ran out of fuel midway.  

The District Medical Officer refused to comment on the matter saying he can only say anything after proper investigation.