Ambulance turns killer!
At least four people, including a pregnant woman were killed and six others injured as an ambulance ploughed through a crowd at the entrance of the emergency gate of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday morning.
The accident took place at around 9:00 am yesterday as the driver of the ambulance lost control over its steering, DMCH camp in-charge sub-inspector Bachchu Miah told The New Nation.
The deceased were identified as Gulenur Begum, 25, wife of Feroz Miah, and her son Shakib, 7, a class two student, hailing from Chhoto Baizda village in Rangabali upazila of Patuakhali district, the pregnant woman Amena Begum Surjo, 35, and an elderly street-beggar, 60, said an official.
Injured Amena Begum Surjya, a six-month expecting mother had been undergoing treatment at the Emergency Unit of the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries at about 7:00 pm.
The others injured persons including Ramjan Ali, 30, Bachchu Mia, 35 and Sajib have been admitted to the hospital. Of the injured, the condition of Ramjan Ali, was stated to be critical while the remaining others left the hospital taking first aid.
Gulenur along with family members came to the DMCH for the treatment of her son Shakib, who was injured in a road accident at their village on Friday. The private ambulance, ‘Manab Seba’, hit 10 people at the entrance of the Emergency Unit of the hospital near the DMCH police box around 9am, leaving Shakib and an beggar dead on the spot and eight others injured.
Police seized the ambulance and arrested its driver.
Abu Bakar Alif, a student of Dhaka University, who was present at the spot, told The New Nation that as there is no parking place for ambulance at DMCH, the drivers park their vehicles on the road illegally.
The accident was “sheer irresponsibility” on part of the ambulance driver, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim told reporters after visiting the hospital. “Legal action will be taken against the driver,” the Minister said.
