Bhubaneswar: A cyclist was allegedly denied first-aid by a private hospital ambulance after he fell unconscious following an accident during the Raahgiri programme Sunday near Sreya Square. The victim was later taken to Capital Hospital by transgenders who were there to participate in the programme.
Menaka, a transgender and an eyewitness, said the 30-year-old man was hit by a teenager cyclist during the Raahgiri programme and fell unconscious on the ground. “We hurried him to a private hospital ambulance, which was parked nearby, but the staff of the ambulance behaved rudely and refused to take him to hospital,” Menaka said.
The incident also showed that the municipal corporation had not made proper arrangements for a programme in which hundreds of people from districts had come to participate. “There was no government ambulance or any other arrangement to provide first aid to people in case of an emergency,” said Meghna, another transgender.
“What if there is a stampede? Will the government not be held responsible for not arranging drinking water or even basic first-aid facility during Raahgiri?” asked Pratap Sahu, a social activist, who was there to take part in the programme.
Some participants also wondered why the ambulance of a private hospital was parked there during Raahgiri if they did not want to provide help. “Why does the municipal corporation allow it? Should government ambulances not be stationed?” asked Meghna.
BMC Mayor Anant Narayan Jena downplayed the incident and said that better first-aid facilities would be arranged from the next time. PNN
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