The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday took suo motu cognisance on a matter, where a newborn allegedly died as the ambulance carrying the infant could not reach to the hospital due to a political rally in Sonipat on Wednesday.
The NHRC has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Haryana government calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks along with the details of the relief and rehabilitation provided to the aggrieved family.
"Haryana's Director General of Police (DGP) has been directed to submit a report regarding steps taken on the FIR registered in the matter and present status of the investigation of the case," the NHRC said.
The Commission has also directed to the Secretary of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to submit a report within four weeks making mandatory to equip all ambulances, be it owned by the government or outsourced or owned by private hospitals, with the life-saving devices.
"The Commission has observed that the TV grabs reveal that it was a state government ambulance and apparently if the traffic was normal, the life of the innocent newborn, perhaps, could have been saved and his Right to Life would not have been violated. The incident seems to be indicative of the negligence by the administration and police officials controlling the traffic," the Commission added.
It is further observed that this is not the first painful incident in which a human life has been lost due to agitation, political rally or VIP movement on the roads. There is a dire need to deeply analyze the problem and take effective measures to ensure that precious human lives are not lost due to such activities, obstructing smooth flow of traffic on the roads especially, the ambulance and the emergency services vehicles.
The NHRC observed that the incident has two issues (i) lack of provision for the separate specific passage for ambulance vehicles so that life of the ill person could be saved, (ii) compulsory provision for emergency equipments like oxygen cylinders etc in all ambulance.
"According to the media reports, the family members of the infant have alleged that they were stuck in the traffic jam for 45 minutes because of the ongoing rally and there was no provision for oxygen in the ambulance. The newborn was referred to Sonipat and from there to Rohtak hospital but he died on the way as the family reached hospital late by one and a half hours. It is also reported that the ambulance staff claimed that they pressed the siren several times on the blocked road for a way but all in vain," the Commission said.
The infant died en-route to a hospital in an ambulance. The relatives of the deceased allege that a massive traffic jam, caused by Congress leader Ashok Tanwar's 'Haryana Bachao Pariwartan Lao rally in the city, was responsible for the delay, which resulted in the infant's death in the ambulance.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has ordered an inquiry into the death of an infant in Sonipat.
An FIR has been lodged in the case under Section 304A and 177 (Motor Vehicles Act) at a police station in Kundli and the investigating team will comprise of Additional Superintendent of Police, Station House Officer and two Inspecting officers to probe the matter.
Tanwar, however, denied that the cause of death was the traffic jam due to his rally and instead pinned the blame on the hospital's negligence.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
