Bengal: Woman dies on makeshift cot as ambulances refuse service on dilapidated road in Malda

 Local vehicles denied service due to the poor condition of a road connecting her village in West Bengal's Malda district

PTI, Calcutta/Malda (WB), 18.11.23: A 25-year-old woman died while being taken to a rural hospital on a charpoy by her family after ambulances and local vehicles denied service due to the poor condition of a road connecting her village in West Bengal's Malda district with the medical establishment, officials said on Saturday.

The incident took place when the family members of Mamuni Roy, who had been ill for a few days, were taking her on a charpoy (cot) from her village Maldanga to Modipukur rural hospital, around four-and-half-km away, in Bamangola area on Friday. Her husband Kartik Roy claimed they had to carry her to the rural hospital on the cot as no ambulance or any local vehicle was willing to risk the perilous journey due to the poor condition of the road.

"We tried to take her to the hospital on a cot but she died on the way," he said.

Bamangola Block Development Officer (BDO) Raju Kundu told PTI, "The woman was ill for the last few days and was being taken to the hospital but she died on the way." "The road had been 'kuccha' (unpaved) for a long time. Six to seven months ago, we repaired the road and have plans to lay a tar road. We have sent the proposal to higher authorities for laying bitumen and are awaiting permission," he said.

A local BJP leader alleged that the administration has failed to take any action to improve the road condition, while the TMC said the matter required a probe and asserted that the incident does not prove that there has not been any development in the area.

The incident echoed similar tragedies in Jalpaiguri and Kaliaganj in recent months where family members had to carry the bodies of their family members after ambulances demanded hefty sums.