West Bengal: Free-ambulance's driver haggle over fare, child dies outside Barasat hospital
According to reports, an eight-month-old child- Soheni Sultana- was taken to Barasat hospital with severe breathing trouble on Monday and after first aid, the patient was referred to B. C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children in Kolkata.
When patient's parents arranged an ambulance under Nischay Yan scheme (An initiative of state government to provide emergency transportation free of cost), its driver allegedly asked for hire charges and additional tips.
Soheni's father refused to pay the money and somehow made another driver agree to go to Kolkata after nearly 90 minutes. But by then the child expired.
Thereafter, her family members went to hospital's superintendent to submit complaint. When the child's family members were prevented from entering super's room, they engaged in a scuffle with the ambulance-drivers.
Police force rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Meanwhile, ambulance drivers claimed that patient's family members manhandled them.
However, police and state health department have started investigating into the matter.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
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