A woman who attempted suicide and was being rushed to hospital died after the ambulance doors jammed, delaying her transport, officials confirmed on Monday. A four-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident.
The woman, identified as Sulekha, 45, attempted to end her life by hanging herself at her home on Sunday. She was being transported to the district hospital in an ambulance when the doors jammed.
Emergency responders reportedly had to break the vehicle’s window glass to extract her. By the time she reached the hospital, doctors declared her brought dead.
The victim’s family alleged that a delay caused by the malfunctioning ambulance doors led to her death. According to them, Sulekha was trapped inside the vehicle for 15 “critical” minutes, during which valuable time was lost.
However, EMRIGHS, the ambulance service provider, refuted the claim. In a statement, the service provider said, “Documentary evidence shows the woman exhibited no vital signs at the time she entered the ambulance, indicating that death occurred prior to transportation.”
District Collector Namit Mehta has assigned Assistant Collector Arun Jain to oversee the investigation. Additionally, Bhilwara’s Chief Medical and Health Officer, Dr CP Goswami, announced the formation of a committee to probe the matter thoroughly.
“A committee comprising four members has been formed to investigate the circumstances and submit its findings at the earliest,” said Dr Goswami.
The findings of the investigation are expected to provide clarity on the sequence of events and any lapses in emergency response.
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