Cops deny ambulance for asthma patient

A 32-year-old woman, an asthma patient, landed in a hospital’s intensive care unit after the police refused to give her an ambulance saying they were meant for VIPs.

A 32-year-old woman, an asthma patient, landed in a hospital’s intensive care unit after the police refused to give her an ambulance saying they were meant for VIPs.

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The woman, who works as a radio jockey with a private FM channel, started having trouble breathing because of the fireworks display during the concluding session at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

After much pleading, she was taken to AIIMS in a DCP’s vehicle, which had the mandatory sticker. The incident was reported around 10pm on Thursday from gate number 6.

“I asked a policeman to help but he said the ambulance was for the VIPs. It was only when the crowd gathered and protested that they took me to hospital. As no vehicle is allowed on that stretch, I had to walk a lot. I lost consciousness after that,” said the woman, who did not wish to disclose her identity.

Delhi Police, however, said deploying ambulances was not their job but they never denied permission for any ambulance to be parked there. “She was taken to the hospital in a policeman’s car. There was no delay in providing her help,” said Rajan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesperson.