Tragic Ambulance Accident Claims Life and Leaves Two Injured in Jajpur District

Fatal Incident on National Highway 16

Dharmasala: A tragic accident involving an ambulance occurred early Saturday morning near Rathiya on National Highway 16, resulting in one fatality and two serious injuries.

Reports indicate that the ambulance was returning from Cuttack after dropping off a patient when it collided with another vehicle. The front end of the ambulance sustained extensive damage.

The victim has been identified as Achyutananda Barik from the Madhupur area in the Dasarathpur block. The injured individuals include the driver, Kaulas Panda, and pharmacist, Tapas Patra, who were aboard the government ambulance with registration number OD-02-BJ-1463.

Local residents promptly came to the aid of the injured, transporting them to the Dharmasala Community Health Centre.

Medical personnel declared Barik deceased, while Panda and Patra received initial treatment before being transferred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for further care.

Sources reveal that the ambulance, stationed in Dasarathpur, had completed six trips that day and was returning from Cuttack when it reportedly crashed into a parked vehicle near Rathiya.

Concerns have been raised regarding the working conditions of ambulance staff, who are allegedly required to work 24-hour shifts, violating labor laws and contributing to such accidents.

A local union has voiced that the lack of adequate rest for drivers is a significant factor in these incidents and has called for adherence to labor regulations for ambulance drivers.