A 21-year-old kidney patient died on 27 July while being transferred between hospitals in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, after the oxygen cylinder in the ambulance allegedly ran empty mid-journey, his family has alleged. The district administration has since ordered a formal inquiry into the incident.

What Happened

Ajit Baraiya, a resident of Sunhara Mal village, was being shifted from Bamhani Hospital to the district hospital when, according to his family, the oxygen supply failed approximately three kilometres into the journey. They alleged that oxygen was not administered until after the ambulance had already departed, and that the cylinder was exhausted shortly thereafter, leaving Ajit gasping for breath before he died.

The family stated they had specifically informed the 108 ambulance service that Ajit was in severe respiratory distress and required continuous oxygen. A video that circulated following the incident purportedly shows the ambulance's oxygen pressure gauge reading zero, lending weight to the family's account, though its authenticity has not been independently verified.

Family's Account

Speaking to reporters outside a government hospital, Ajit's father said the tragedy was preventable. 'My son was struggling to breathe. I repeatedly told the ambulance staff that he needed oxygen. If oxygen had been available throughout the journey, my son would have survived,' he said.

The family alleged that basic operational protocols for emergency vehicles were not followed, and that the lapse directly cost Ajit his life.

Administration Orders Probe

Mandla Collector Rahul Namdev Dhote constituted a four-member inquiry committee comprising doctors and revenue officials to investigate the case. Describing the incident as 'unfortunate', Dhote said the panel would examine both the medical treatment provided to Ajit and the functioning of the ambulance service.

'The inquiry committee will investigate the medical aspects of the case as well as any negligence in the maintenance and operation of the ambulance. The report has been sought at the earliest,' Dhote said.

The Collector added that the probe would specifically assess whether the ambulance service adhered to operational guidelines prescribed for emergency vehicles. 'If the inquiry finds any violation of the rules or negligence on the part of any individual or agency, the strictest legal action will be taken,' he said.

Wider Context

The Mandla incident is not an isolated case. Across India, lapses in ambulance readiness — ranging from equipment failure to delayed response — have repeatedly come under scrutiny, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where oversight mechanisms are weaker. The 108 emergency ambulance service, operated under public-private partnerships in several states including Madhya Pradesh, has faced criticism in the past over maintenance standards and staff training. This incident adds to a pattern of systemic gaps in last-mile emergency healthcare delivery.

What Comes Next

The inquiry committee's findings are awaited, and the Collector has indicated that the report is expected on priority. Depending on the outcome, action could be initiated against individual ambulance staff, the service operator, or both. The case has drawn attention to whether emergency vehicles in the state undergo mandatory pre-dispatch oxygen checks — a protocol whose enforcement remains unclear.