Ramanattukara: In a tragic incident, two critically ill patients lost their lives after ambulances carrying them got stuck in a traffic jam in Kozhikode, Kerala. Sulaikha (54) from Edarikode was being transported from Kottakkal MIMS to Kozhikode IQRA hospital while Shajil Kumar (49) from Kottassery was en route from Chelari DMS hospital to Kozhikode Medical College for urgent treatment. Both patients succumbed during the delay. The ambulances got stuck on the Kakkanchery stretch of the newly constructed six-lane highway causing delay in reaching the hospitals.

The ambulance could not move an inch in the four-lane traffic jam. Seeing this issue, the passengers from other vehicles got out and tried their best to clear the roadblock, but efforts were in vain.

After much difficulty, the patients were shifted to Crescent Hospital in Feroke, but could not be saved. 

“The ideal time for the transportation of a patient from Kottakkal to IQRA hospital is 45 minutes. But the ambulance got stuck on the road instead for the same amount of time,” said the Tehelka ambulance driver Nuhmanul Altaf.

The second ambulance left at 7.30 pm with Shajil Kumar, who was referred to the Medical College following a cardiac arrest. The driver, Sadik Velimukku, said it normally takes 20 minutes to reach the Medical College from DMS. However, the patient's condition deteriorated after getting stuck in a traffic jam at Kakkanchery for about half a mile. He said that some other ambulances were also stuck in the traffic jam.