MARGAO: There was major tension in Davorlim and Margao after a Davorlim local succumbed to injuries sustained in a road accident on Sunday night. 108 ambulance services have been blamed for not taking the local to Hospicio Hospital, Margao, which locals say could have saved his life.
While protesting at Hospicio till late Sunday night, the locals said a cyclist, Allabax (60), was knocked down and injured by Nitin Nambre riding a motorcycle. Pillion Vaibhav Tuenkar was also injured.
Locals claimed they had called for a 108 ambulance, but when one reached the site, the ambulance staff declared the Davorlim local dead and only took Tuenkar. The deceased had to be taken to Hospicio in a police jeep.
The locals further claimed that the deceased was still breathing and could have been saved if he had reached the hospital on time and received first aid at the accident site. They gathered in large numbers at Hospicio and demanded action against the 108 staff who visited the site.
There have been similar instances in other parts of Salcete, where ambulances have not picked up bodies due to a clause restricting them from doing so. However, the locals have questioned what authority the staff has to declare a person as dead, and thus, not take them to the hospital.
Sources have informed that due to lack of doctors, only paramedical officers were in the ambulance, which is generally the case.
The incident brings to light yet another instance where the shortage of staff and ambulances has affected emergency health services.
