Haryana orders probe into death case

Haryana Government on Thursday ordered an inquiry into the death of an infant in Sonipat, after the ambulance carrying the baby got stuck in traffic jam caused by the cycle rally of state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar.

According to the family of infant, the ambulance was allegedly stuck in a massive traffic jam due to ‘Haryana Bachao Pariwartan Lao’, cycle rally led Ashok Tanwar in Sonipat on Tuesday.

An FIR has also been registered in the case under Section 304A and 177 (Motor Vehicles Act) in a police station in Kundli.

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, while talking to the mediapersons said that he has directed the Director General Health to submit investigation report within 24 hours of the case in which the new-born died after ambulance got stuck in jam caused by the Congress’ cycle rally.

Vij said that he has raised this issue with Chief MinisterManohar Lal and demanded police action in this matter.

As per the directions of the Chief Minister, the Director General Health has been directed to constitute special investigation team and get the matter investigated at the earliest so that action could be initiated against the guilty, he said.

Vij further said that stopping ambulance in any condition is intolerable and inhuman.

He said, “It has been informed that during cycle rally, the Congress party workers were dancing in front of the ambulance thus causing obstruction to it for long time due to which the new-born died. This is a serious matter, and those found guilty would not be spared.”

The relatives of the victim family have alleged that the ambulance was stuck for a long time that led delay in reaching the hospital. The family was referred to Sonipat and from there to Rohtak hospital. The infant died en-route due to the Congress rally because we reached the hospital late, alleged the family members.

Ashok Tanwar, however, blamed the hospital for the infant’s death.

Denying that the death was due to traffic jam caused by his rally, Tanwar while talking to the mediapersons in Sonipat said, “I have a video of his father wherein he stated that the incident happened because of the hospital’s negligence. He was there (hospital) for 12 hours but did not receive any medical facilities. The family was later referred to civil hospital and then to Rohtak.”

While defending himself, the Congress leader also claimed that when the party members got to know about the ambulance being stuck in traffic, they gave way and cleared the road.

Expressing his grief over the incident, Tanwar said, “It is unfortunate that the infant died. No one should do politics on this issue.”

“If an FIR has to be registered, it should be registered against the hospital for negligence. The government, local administration and police should take responsibility,” Tanwar alleged.

The infant's father had said the child died as the ambulance was not equipped with oxygen cylinders, paramedical staff etc, he added

The ambulance staff has however claimed that they had pressed the ambulance siren several times on the blocked roads but no one took notice.

Leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly and Indian National Lok Dal’s senior leader, Abhay Chautala has also condemned the Congress leader Ashok Tanwar over the incident. Political rally is not important and an ambulance should have been given way to proceed to the hospital. It is unfortunate that the child died. The guilty should be punished in this incident, he added.