Bhubaneswar: A man died on Friday after the 108 ambulance carrying him to Bhadrak district headquarters hospital broke down and allegedly emitted smoke near Jalanga Chhak in Balasore district, triggering protests from local residents and family members who alleged that the man died due to delay in arranging another vehicle. The deceased was identified as Bhagabata Sahu of Turanipada village under Khaira police limits.According to sources, Sahu suffered an electric shock and was first taken to Khaira CHC. As his condition deteriorated, doctors referred him to Bhadrak district headquarters hospital. Sahu’s family members said he was being shifted in a 108 ambulance when the vehicle developed a technical snag around 2 pm at Jalanga Chhak under Simulia police station limits.Ambulance driver Debendra Nayak said he stopped the vehicle after noticing the problem. “When I checked the vehicle, I saw smoke coming out of the bonnet. I checked the battery and tried to start the ambulance again, but it did not start. Later, I called another ambulance to shift the patient,” Nayak said.Family members alleged that the replacement ambulance arrived nearly 30 minutes later. By then, Sahu had fallen unconscious. He was later taken to a govt hospital at Simulia, where doctors declared him brought dead. The incident led to tension at Jalanga Chhak as locals staged a protest, demanding accountability for the alleged delay.Police said they received information about the incident around 2.20 pm. Personnel from Simulia police station reached the spot and pacified the protesters. A police officer said the body was sent for postmortem after Sahu was declared brought dead at the hospital. The vehicle had been carrying Sahu from Khaira towards Bhadrak for treatment.
