Hyderabad: In a tragic event, two patients from Andhra Pradesh died in the ambulance vehicles in which they were traveling as the police in Telangana did not allow vehicles without valid online permits to cross the interstate border at Kurnool. The development took place on Friday at the Panchalingala checkpoint on National Highway 44.
The two people who died on Friday were identified as residents of Nandyal and Kurnool, respectively.
At least 40 Andhra Pradesh ambulances have been forced to return from Pullur Toll Square since Thursday when they tried to cross the state border on their way to Hyderabad. A similar situation took place at the Ramapuram border post near Suryapet.
While Telangana police officials said ambulances that did not contain the required online permits were banned from entering, relatives of some patients said that even those with permits issued by Andhra Pradesh police forcibly turned back is.
With covid cases increase in Andhra Pradesh, many critically ill patients are brought to Hyderabad, which in turn puts pressure on the availability of bed and medical care in the capital of the state.
Telangana police have instructed to allow access to the state, only for patients with the necessary e-permit, and the confirmation of the hospital.
Since Sunday saw the border crossing between Pullur near Kurnool and Ramapuram at Suryapet, there has been evidence of poignant scenes of patients’ family members begging Telangana police to let their vehicles in.
The developments at the border provoked sharp reactions from the public and politicians in Andhra Pradesh.
Source: The Siasat Daily