Cuttack: A major tragedy was averted late last night when a 108 emergency ambulance caught fire near Badambadi area in Odisha’s Cuttack city. An infant patient, along with family members and medical staff, had a narrow escape thanks to the quick thinking of the ambulance driver.
The Incident
According to sources, the 108 ambulance was transporting a sick child from Barchana area of Jajpur district to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, popularly known as Shishu Bhawan, in Cuttack.
At around 1:30 am, thick smoke suddenly began billowing out of the moving vehicle. Recognising the immediate danger, the driver promptly pulled the ambulance over to the side of the road.
A Narrow Escape
There were six people inside the vehicle at the time of the incident, including the infant patient, two relatives, and three ambulance staff members.
Acting on absolute instinct and presence of mind, the driver and staff quickly evacuated the panic-stricken family and the child from the vehicle before the flames could engulf it. Within minutes of the evacuation, the fire spread rapidly, completely gutting the ambulance and leaving it reduced to a charred metal frame.
Investigation Underway
While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be officially confirmed, preliminary assessments suspect a mechanical failure or a short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical wiring.
Police and fire services personnel arrived at the scene shortly after the incident to control the situation. No casualties or injuries have been reported, and the infant patient was safely moved to Shishu Bhawan via alternative arrangements.
