Basta: Three persons including an ASHA worker died when a 108 ambulance rammed a stationary truck from behind at Barunagadia on NH-60 under Basta police limits in Balasore Tuesday. The condition of a pregnant woman is stated to be critical.
The ASHA worker was reportedly killed on the spot while two others died at a local hospital.
According to reports, the ambulance was shifting a pregnant woman Sumitra Dalai from Sanauansa under Bhograi police limits later Monday night to Basta community health centre. The woman was being accompanied by ASHA worker Namita Nayak, her mother Jyotsna Rani Das, maternal uncle Budhuram Jena and her husband.
The ambulance hit a stationary truck near an eatery at Barunagadia. The ASHA worker died on the spot while Budhuram, Sumitra and her husband were critically injured and admitted to Basta hospital. As their condition grew critical, the three were being shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. Budhuram and her husband succumbed on the way while the condition of the woman is stated to be critical.
Tension flared in the area following the accident. Members of local ASHA workers’ association staged a demonstration on the hospital premises, demanding compensation for the bereaved family of the ASHA worker. The agitating worker also demanded a job for one of her family members.
Medical officer-in-charge of Basta CHC Dr Ratnakar Das assured the ASHA workers that their demands will be put forth before the government. Police seized the ambulance and started an investigation. PNN
