A heartbreaking incident in Dhenkanal district has sparked widespread outrage after a three-year-old child, Raju Munda, died due to an alleged delay in the 108 ambulance service.
The tragedy unfolded in Dangapal Ambataila Sahi under Kankadahad block, where Raju reportedly slipped and fell into a canal while bathing with friends. Though rescued promptly, his family’s urgent call to the 108 ambulance service went unanswered.
With no help in sight, the family transported the unconscious child on a motorbike to Kamakhyanagar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Local tribal leader Madhabananda Marandi condemned the failure of emergency services, urging the government to take responsibility.
EMRI Green Health Services, which manages the 108 Emergency Response Service in Odisha, has responded, stating that no ambulance service request was recorded at their centralised call centre for this incident on July 16, either from the patient or the location. They emphasise that their system handles approximately 14,000 calls and dispatches over 6,000 ambulances daily, with all calls recorded and traceable.
