Andhra patient dies as T’gana cops halt ambulance at border

VIJAYAWADA: A Covid-19 patient from Andhra Pradesh died on Friday on the state’s border with Telangana, inside the ambulance he was being carried in when it was stopped by Telangana police, reportedly for not having an entry pass.
The ambulance was stopped at the Panchalingala check-post on NH-44 in Kurnool district.
Even as the tragedy struck, Telangana high court on Friday stayed a circular issued by the state government restraining entry of ambulances carrying Covid patients from neighbouring states into its territory.
Terming the May 11 circular by the state as ‘discriminatory’ and saying it “violates the right to life as guaranteed by the Constitution and runs contrary to the provisions of the Epidemics Act and Disaster Management Act,” a bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy issued notices to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and central governments, asking them to file counters.
Police said the victim was in a critical condition and the delay at the checkpost is believed to have worsened his condition.
Despite criticism from the high court, police continued to stop ambulances from border areas.
Another person had to be admitted at Nandyal Covid hospital when the ambulance’s oxygen reserves reached its lowest level.
Kurnool police said there was a long queue of ambulances at Pullur toll plaza since Thursday after Telangana police started halting vehicles.
“We are just following the instructions to allow only vehicles which have passes from Telangana police, or health officials,” a senior police officer told TOI.