Jagatsinghpur Woman Dies in Ambulance Due to Lack of Oxygen; Locals Demand Accountability

Jagatsinghpur, — A 58-year-old woman from Brahmanakhanda village under Aula panchayat tragically died in a private ambulance on Sunday, allegedly due to the absence of oxygen support.

The incident has sparked outrage among locals and renewed scrutiny over emergency medical services in rural Odisha.

The deceased, Kamala Panda, was initially admitted to the district headquarters hospital after experiencing chest pain. As her condition worsened, she was referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Her family arranged for a private ambulance, but during transit, Kamala’s health deteriorated rapidly. Reports confirm the vehicle lacked essential life-saving equipment, including an oxygen cylinder, leading to her death before arrival.

Following the incident, angry villagers vandalised the ambulance and blamed the operator for gross negligence.

The vehicle was detained by Jagatsinghpur police, and Kamala’s family has filed a formal complaint, alleging that the lack of basic medical support directly caused her death.

Authorities have launched an investigation and pledged stricter oversight of private ambulance services.

The tragedy has reignited concerns about the preparedness and regulation of emergency healthcare infrastructure in Odisha’s rural districts.