Patna: A 40-year-old man injured in a road accident on JP Ganga Path was taken to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) in a police patrol jeep after an ambulance reportedly failed to reach the scene for nearly 30 minutes.
The accident took place near Mahavir Ghat under Alamganj police station on Tuesday night. The injured man, identified as Sandeep Ojha, worked at an iron factory in Fatuha and was returning home after his shift when a speeding vehicle hit him and fled.
Police Arrive, Ambulance Delayed
Passersby alerted the Dial 112 emergency service following the accident. A police team reached the spot promptly but reportedly had to wait for an ambulance to transport Ojha.
As his condition worsened, police personnel decided not to wait any longer. They cleared space in their patrol jeep, placed Ojha inside and drove him to PMCH.
Ojha’s father, Devendra Kumar Ojha, arrived at the scene with other family members. He said the family was informed that police had been waiting for an ambulance, but it did not arrive for a considerable period.
By the time the ambulance eventually reached the location, police had already taken Ojha to PMCH, where treatment had begun.
Concerns Over Emergency Response
The incident has raised concerns about the availability and response time of ambulances for road accident victims, particularly during the early period following serious injuries.
Local residents said quicker ambulance deployment could help accident victims reach hospitals without delay. They have also called for permanent ambulance arrangements near accident-prone locations.
Civil Surgeon Orders Review
Civil Surgeon Dr Yogendra Prasad Mandal said ambulances generally reach patients on time. He said any delay in this case would be investigated.
Mandal said officials would establish when the ambulance call was made and to whom the call was placed by obtaining information from the injured man and the police personnel involved.
He also said systems are in place to monitor ambulance locations and operations.
