Sambalpur Ambulance Accident: One Dead, Five Critical After NH-55 Collision
A tragic road accident in Odisha’s Sambalpur district early Saturday morning claimed the life of an ambulance attendant and left five others critically injured.
The incident occurred around 5 am near Phuljharan on NH-55 under Jujumura police limits, when a 108 ambulance carrying a patient and his relatives from Boudh to VIMSAR Burla collided with a sand-laden truck.
Police identified the deceased as Manabhanjan Sahu, the ambulance attendant, who died instantly due to the severe impact. Locals and police rushed to the spot, shifting the injured to the nearest hospital for urgent 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. Authorities suspect the poor condition of the vehicle may have contributed to the accident.
The incident has reignited concerns about the working conditions of ambulance staff, who often remain on duty for 12–14 hours without adequate rest. Police have seized the body for a post-mortem and launched a probe into the accident, focusing not only on the sequence of events but also on broader issues of vehicle fitness and staff welfare.
