A tragic accident shook Odisha’s Sambalpur district early Saturday morning when a 108 ambulance rammed into a sand-laden truck near Phuljharan on NH-55 under Jujumura police limits.
Police identified the deceased as Manabhanjan Sahu, the ambulance attendant. The collision occurred around 5 am while the ambulance was carrying a patient and his relatives from Boudh to VIMSAR Burla. As a result of the severe impact, Sahu died instantly, while five others sustained grievous injuries.
Immediately after the crash, locals and police rushed to the spot. Consequently, they shifted the injured to the nearest hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Investigators revealed that the ambulance had already covered 5–7 lakh km, far beyond the government’s prescribed limit of 2.5 lakh km for condemning vehicles. Therefore, officials suspect that the poor condition of the vehicle may have contributed to the accident.
Moreover, the incident has reignited concerns about the working conditions of ambulance staff, who often remain on duty for 12–14 hours without adequate rest.
Meanwhile, police seized the body for a post-mortem and launched a probe to determine the exact sequence of events. Authorities emphasised that the investigation will focus not only on the accident but also on the broader issue of vehicle fitness and staff welfare.
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