‘Drunk’ Ambulance Driver Delays Emergency Transport of Pregnant Woman in Odisha
According to the patient’s husband, Vijay Raita, the driver appeared intoxicated and fell asleep after abruptly halting the ambulance.
Bhubaneswar: In a disturbing incident raising serious questions about emergency medical services in Odisha, a 108 ambulance service driver allegedly under the influence of alcohol halted mid-journey, delaying the transfer of a pregnant woman in need of urgent care. The incident occurred in the R. Udayagiri area of Gajapati district late Thursday night.
The woman, referred from Chandragiri Medical Centre to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for advanced medical attention, was reportedly left stranded after the ambulance driver began driving rashly and then stopped the vehicle without warning.
According to the patient’s husband, Vijay Raita, the driver appeared intoxicated and fell asleep after abruptly halting the ambulance.
“The driver was behaving erratically, and then he simply stopped in the middle of the road and went to sleep. My wife was experiencing contractions, and we feared for her life,” Raita told this reporter.
With no immediate help available, the family was forced to arrange a private vehicle around 1.00 am to complete the journey to the hospital—losing precious time during a critical moment.
While the hospital authorities denied the allegation of alcohol consumption, claiming the driver had “suddenly fallen ill,” the family and local residents have rejected this explanation.
“If he was sick, why was he on duty at all? We are talking about people’s lives here,” a local resident said, expressing outrage over the incident.
Till this report was filed, no official statement was issued by the 108 ambulance service operators.
The incident sparked widespread criticism, particularly as the 108 ambulance network is considered a lifeline in rural and tribal belts of Odisha, offering free emergency transportation to thousands. Civil society groups and health rights advocates have demanded an immediate inquiry and strict action if negligence or misconduct is confirmed.
Healthcare workers in the region admit that ambulance services are stretched thin, but assert that instances of alleged intoxication by on-duty drivers are rare—and deeply troubling when they occur.
“The present case stresses the urgent need for stronger oversight mechanisms and accountability within emergency response systems, especially in vulnerable districts where patients often rely solely on government-run services for life-saving support,” said Ganesh Raju, a social activist of Gajapati district.