A delegation from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) expressed deep concern over the tragic death of a young man named Shankar Maharana from Aitapur village in the Khallikote block of Ganjam district. This incident was attributed to the mismanagement of the 108 ambulance service. The delegation met with Shankar’s bereaved family, offering their support and condemning the government’s gross negligence.
On Thursday, Shankar collapsed after being struck in the chest by a ball while playing cricket. His family immediately called for an ambulance, but the delay in its arrival forced them to take him to Balugaon Medical College on their own. As Shankar’s condition worsened, he was referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. Unfortunately, the 108 ambulance broke down near Khallikote while en route, and the family was left desperately calling for assistance from other ambulances and the police, but to no avail.
For over three hours, Shankar suffered on the Khallikote National Highway while waiting for help. Eventually, they spotted another ambulance passing by, and they managed to take him to MKCG Medical College, where doctors declared him dead. Medical authorities stated that had Shankar reached the hospital in time, his life could have been saved.
Villagers and Shankar’s family informed the BJD delegation that a precious life was lost due to the government’s negligence. Under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, the 108 ambulance service used to respond within 20 minutes, but under the current BJP government, even after three hours of repeated calls, an ambulance did not arrive.
The family requested government assistance to transport Shankar’s body from MKCG back to their village but received no help and had to spend ₹5,000 out of pocket for transportation. Despite the passing of three days since the incident, no government official visited the family until yesterday. Only after news spread about the BJD delegation’s visit did the government hurriedly announce ₹4 lakh in financial assistance late last night.
Considering the extreme poverty of Shankar Maharana’s family, the BJD delegation has demanded that the government provide a job to his brother immediately.
The BJD delegation, led by former Union Minister Shri Chandra Sekhar Sahu, included former MLA Shri Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik, Shri Bikram Panda, Shri Subash Behera, Smt. Manjula Swain, Smt. Suryamani Baidya, Smt. Ranjita Sahu, Berhampur Mayor Smt. Sanghamitra Dalei, Shri Subash Maharana, former Zilla Parishad Chairperson Smt. Sonam Palei, former NAC Chairperson Shri Ram Mohan Panda, and local Sarpanch Smt. Twinkle Tarai, among others.
