Woman dies after waiting for 108 ambulance for one-and-half hours in TVM

Thiruvananthapuram: A woman from Thiruvananthapuram, identified as Ancy, died after allegedly failing to receive an ambulance from the Vellarada Community Health Centre to Neyyattinkara General Hospital. Ancy, who was suffering from high fever, was unable to get the 108 ambulance service, with her relatives claiming they waited for an hour and a half.

An audio recording surfaced in which Vellarada Block Panchayat member Ani Prasad contacted the 108 ambulance service, only to be informed that the ambulance was unavailable due to special duty assigned to the Kurishumala pilgrimage. Despite the ambulance lying idle at the hospital, the staff said it could not be released, as it was stationed there as per government instructions.

However, the member also stated that the hospital's oxygen supply would run out in an hour. Following this, even after getting a doctor from the government hospital to call, the 108 ambulance customer care reiterated that the ambulance could not be released. They also stated that the ambulance was kept aside for use in case of any 'emergency'.

As no other ambulance was available in the district, they had to wait for one and a half hours. Finally, after arranging an oxygen cylinder from the CHC, Ancy succumbed on the way to the General Hospital at Amaravila. Only her visually impaired husband was accompanying Ancy. Being financially backward, the 108 ambulance was their only means to get to the hospital. Despite interventions from public representatives and the hospital doctor, Ancy could not receive help.