Patient: Kunal Kumar

From: Khusrupur, Patna district

Problems faced: JD(U) supporters stopped the private ambulance carrying Kunal to Patna Medical College and Hospital for almost 30 minutes at Fatuha

Reaction: “We luckily spotted a government ambulance and followed it to reach PMCH. It is ridiculous that JD(U) supporters did not show mercy even on ambulance carrying patients during the bandh,” said Ramsakal Paswan, Kunal’s uncle, adding Kunal was suffering from convulsion.

Patient: Prakash Yadav

From: Jamui resident shifted from a Rajendra Nagar hospital to PMCH

Problems faced: Prakash’s relatives had to shell out double the fare. Their ambulance was stopped at Dinkar roundabout for some time.

Reaction: I had to shell out Rs 500 to shift Prakash in a private ambulance to PMCH, a distance of about 3km. The normal fare is Rs 150-Rs 200. We had to plead with the bandh supporters that we were carrying a brain haemorrhage patient. Only then they let us go,” said Subhash Kumar, Yadav’s neighbour, who took him to PMCH.

Patient: Subodh Kumar Singh

From: Danapur

Problems faced: Bandh supporters stopped the ambulance carrying Subodh to PMCH for around 15 minutes at Ashiana Mor

Reaction: “We asked the ambulance driver to take the wrong flank of the road so that we could reach the hospital fast. The driver obeyed us and we reached PMCH somehow,” said Shubham Kumar, the patient’s son. Subodh was a kidney patient.

Name: Nazma Khatun

From: Vikramganj in Rohtas district

Problems faced: Bandh supporters stopped the ambulance carrying Nazma to PMCH at many points during her 120-km journey

Reaction: “We struggled a lot to reach PMCH. Instead of the normal three hours’ travelling time, it took us five hours to reach Patna. We were stopped at Piro, Koilwar and Ara, apart from many other places,” said Mohammad Ali, Nazma’s husband. Nazma’s blood sugar level had shot up, endangering her life.