Patient Dies After Ambulance Delayed For Governor’s Convoy

A 42-year-old Indian man undergoing treatment for a severe liver condition has died at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital in Assam, India, after the ambulance conveying him was reportedly delayed by police to allow the convoy of the state’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, to pass.

The deceased, identified as Rasaraj Chakraborty from Sribhumi district, died at about 6am on Thursday while receiving treatment at the hospital.

According to India Today NE, Chakraborty’s ambulance was stopped at the Ramnagar ISBT point in Silchar on Wednesday as police cleared the route for Sarma’s convoy.

Chakraborty had reportedly been taken from Sribhumi to Silchar for advanced medical treatment after his condition deteriorated due to a liver-related ailment.

Video footage showing the ambulance waiting while the Chief Minister’s convoy passed through the area later surfaced online, triggering public criticism over the decision to delay the emergency vehicle.

Following the incident, four police personnel allegedly involved in stopping the ambulance were suspended, according to NDTV, while a departmental inquiry was ordered to determine whether they were negligent in the discharge of their duties.

Sarma subsequently apologised to Chakraborty’s family and described the incident as unacceptable, stressing that the movement of a Chief Minister should not take priority over a person requiring urgent medical attention.

However, hospital officials and the deceased’s family said there was no established link between the ambulance delay and Chakraborty’s death.

The Principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Abhijit Swami, told Hindustan Times that Chakraborty was suffering from liver cirrhosis and died while undergoing treatment.

A member of the deceased’s family also told the newspaper that Chakraborty was already in critical condition before the ambulance was stopped, adding that the vehicle was delayed for nearly 30 minutes.

The family member, however, said the delay did not cause Chakraborty’s death.

Sarma similarly said the death was unrelated to the ambulance stoppage but condemned the practice of holding up emergency vehicles to facilitate VIP movements.

Despite the explanation, the Chief Minister said he was opposed to any arrangement that could delay ambulances and other emergency vehicles during official movements.

Following the incident, the Assam government directed district commissioners and senior police officers across the state to ensure that emergency vehicles were allowed to move without obstruction during VIP movements.

The Chief Minister’s Office also directed that Sarma’s convoy should be stopped where necessary to allow ambulances and other emergency vehicles to pass immediately.

The government further ordered that the Chief Minister’s convoy be limited to the minimum number of vehicles required for security and essential duties.

Ministers, lawmakers, government officials and other dignitaries attending the same engagements were also directed not to travel alongside the Chief Minister’s convoy.

Meanwhile, Sarma said he had directed officials to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and warned that any officer found to have violated the rules governing his convoy would face appropriate action.

He added that his instructions that VIP movements must not inconvenience ordinary citizens had been clear and should be fully implemented.