Bhubaneswar: A 10-year-old boy from Puri district received a new lease of life after Puri police created an 80-km green corridor from Krushnaprasad community health centre to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for the ambulance carrying him on Wednesday.The boy, Prabhupada Jena, a student from Patharkata village under Krushnaprasad block, suffered severe abdominal injuries after the handlebar of his bicycle pierced his abdomen. He reportedly lost control of the bicycle while returning home from school.The incident occurred around 2.30 pm. Local residents immediately rushed him to the community health centre at Krushnaprasad. Considering the seriousness of the injury and the need for specialised treatment, doctors referred him to MKCG Medical College and Hospital.To ensure quick transfer, Puri SDPO Manas Ranjan Barik and Krushnaprasad police coordinated with neighbouring police units and traffic personnel to create a dedicated traffic-free corridor between Krushnaprasad and Berhampur. The arrangement helped the ambulance travel without interruption and reach the hospital quickly.“We sent a police vehicle to pilot the ambulance to MKCG. The ambulance started its journey at 3 pm on Wednesday. We informed police stations along the route to help clear traffic. Finally, we reached the medical college at 4.50 pm,” Barik said.He said doctors performed a three-hour surgery to save the boy. “The vehicle took around one hour and 50 minutes because of the hassle-free traffic. The roads inside Chilika have many curves and humps, so the journey usually takes more time. As a police vehicle piloted the ambulance, it took less time,” he added.Doctors at MKCG said the child was brought in a critical condition with severe abdominal trauma. “After being stabilised, he underwent emergency surgery that lasted nearly three hours. Medical teams repaired the intestinal damage and completed the procedure successfully,” a hospital doctor said.According to hospital authorities, the timely medical response, rapid transfer and coordinated efforts of emergency services played a key role in the boy’s treatment. He is currently stable and remains under observation due to the risk of infection associated with the injury, hospital sources said.The boy’s father, Ajaya Jena, said his son met with the accident while returning from school. “As the handlebar pierced his abdomen, a portion of his intestines came out. I thank the police for helping us reach MKCG quickly,” he said.Before arrival of the patient in the medical college, police had also intimated to the MKCG superintendent Dr Sudeepa Dash about the incident. “Before reaching the patient, we have formed a team headed by Dr Manas Ranjan Sahu, head of department of surgery (paediatric) to treat the boy,” she added.Sahu said they immediately started treatment after arrival of the boy. “The patient is now in the intensive care unit for observation for the next three days. His condition is stable now. The life of the boy was saved due to his arrival in the medical college and hospital in time,” he added.(With input from Hrusikesh Mohanty in Berhampur)
