Tragic Ambulance Accident Claims Life and Leaves Two Injured in Jajpur District

A serious accident involving an ambulance on National Highway 16 in Jajpur district has led to one fatality and two individuals suffering severe injuries. The incident raises concerns about the working conditions of ambulance staff, who are reportedly forced to work long shifts. Local residents and unions are calling for better labor practices to prevent such tragedies in the future. Read on for more details about this unfortunate event.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 25, 2025, 09:47 IST

Fatal Incident on National Highway 16

Dharmasala: A tragic accident involving an ambulance occurred early Saturday morning near Rathiya on National Highway 16, resulting in one fatality and two serious injuries.

Reports indicate that the ambulance was returning from Cuttack after dropping off a patient when it collided with another vehicle. The front end of the ambulance sustained extensive damage.

The victim has been identified as Achyutananda Barik from the Madhupur area in the Dasarathpur block. The injured individuals include the driver, Kaulas Panda, and pharmacist, Tapas Patra, who were aboard the government ambulance with registration number OD-02-BJ-1463.

Local residents promptly came to the aid of the injured, transporting them to the Dharmasala Community Health Centre.

Medical personnel declared Barik deceased, while Panda and Patra received initial treatment before being transferred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for further care.

Sources reveal that the ambulance, stationed in Dasarathpur, had completed six trips that day and was returning from Cuttack when it reportedly crashed into a parked vehicle near Rathiya.

Concerns have been raised regarding the working conditions of ambulance staff, who are allegedly required to work 24-hour shifts, violating labor laws and contributing to such accidents.

A local union has voiced that the lack of adequate rest for drivers is a significant factor in these incidents and has called for adherence to labor regulations for ambulance drivers.