Two-month-old infant dies in ambulance as the door jams, say parents

A two-month-old infant allegedly died in Raipur on Tuesday after the door of the ambulance, which was carrying him to a hospital, did not open due to a malfunction.

Updated on: Jul 18, 2018, 10:04:33 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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A two-month-old infant allegedly died of suffocation in Raipur on Tuesday after the door of the ambulance, which was carrying him to a hospital, did not open due to a malfunction, the infant’s parents said.

According to the baby’s parents, when they reached the hospital the door of the ambulance got jammed and remained locked for more than 30 minutes. (Representative Photo)

The infant’s parents, who hail from Bihar, had brought him to the Chhattisgarh capital for a cardiac surgery. On reaching Raipur, they contacted Sanjivani Express, a free ambulance service to ferry the kid to the Bhim Rao Ambedkar Hospital, infant’s father Ambika Kumar said.

However, according to the baby’s parents, when they reached the hospital the door of the ambulance got jammed and remained locked for more than 30 minutes. Kumar, who was inside the vehicle with the infant, said he tried to break the vehicle’s window but was warned against damaging government property.

“I was urging them to the break the door or a window since my kid had cardiac problem but my efforts went in vain,” he said.

However, GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute), which runs the ambulance service in Chattisgarh, denied the couple’s allegation. “The infant was already dead before reaching the hospital. When the ambulance reached Ambedkar hospital, its door got stuck for a few minutes. The technicians then took the baby out of the vehicle through a window,” Shibu Kumar, government of relation officer of GVK EMRI, said.

The infant’s autopsy report was awaited at the time of filing this report.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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