Death Of Minor Boy In Bhubaneswar: Child Rights Panel Seeks ATR From Traffic DCP

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has sought an action taken report (ATR) from the Traffic DCP in connection with the death of a five-year-old critically-ill boy on Tuesday following a delay in reaching hospital as the ambulance carrying him got stuck in a traffic jam here.

“I have sought the ATR from the Traffic DCP on the circumstances in which the minor boy died, at which places the ambulance carrying the critically ill boy got stranded between Capital Hospital and Nalco Square and arrangement made by the Traffic police to ensure that ambulances will reach the hospitals without halting at any place on the way,” chairperson of the Commission Sandhyabati Pradhan told the media on Thursday.

The DCP has been asked to submit the report in a week.

She question as to how such an unfortunate incident took place when the Commissionerate Police monitor traffic from the control room. “I have also asked the Traffic DCP on the action taken against the policemen who were on duty at the place where the ambulance got caught up in the traffic snarl,” she added.

Apart from this, the Commission will also seek a detailed report from the authorities of the Capital Hospital, she said, adding that the hospital authority, who had referred the minor boy to another hospital, should have intimated the Traffic police as per the rules.

“I have the reports that the minor boy was sent in a private ambulance van. An investigation will be made to ascertain whether the private ambulance van had necessary life saving equipment like ventilator,” she pointed out.

Asked whether the Commission will direct the state government to provide compensation to the family of the deceased, Pradhan said there is a provision that if a critical patient dies in such circumstances, the Commission can ask the government to provide interim compensation.