Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jul 4: Within hours of being identified with coronavirus infection, a senior citizen collapsed on the road and breathed his last on Friday July 3. Unfortunately, his body was drenching unattended on the road for three hours before an ambulance picked it up at 7.30 pm.
The incident happened at Hanumantha Nagar here. A person aged 65, who had tested positive for coronavirus infection, had called for an ambulance on Friday afternoon. As it did not come, he left home to go to the hospital by an auto rickshaw with an umbrella in hand. He left home at 3.35 pm and collapsed on the road at 3.45 pm. As they knew he was infected, the locals were afraid to handle the body. Even though calls were made to the ambulance helpline and officials, no one came. Someone placed a plastic cover on the body. The ambulance came at 7.30 pm and the body was lying in the rain till then, a local said.
Representational image
The wife of the deceased man said that her husband would have survived if the ambulance had arrived on time. She blamed the officials for the lapse. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner said that a team led by BBMP administrative department deputy commissioner Lingamkurthy, has been formed to probe the incident.
Revenue minister R Ashok, said that he has come to know about this incident. He said he has instructed the officials to take steps to make sure that such incidents do not recur.
The deceased was suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes too. He was an auto rickshaw driver but had sold off his vehicle for certain reasons. Four months ago, he had somehow pooled some money but before he bought a three-wheeler, lockdown was announced, a friend of the deceased said. The man had undergone a test two days back as he had breathing problems. The test report came on Friday afternoon. He called for an ambulance, and as it did not come, he left home with clothes which would be enough for two weeks, and was walking by the road to catch an auto rickshaw when he suddenly collapsed, another local explained.