Ranchi, Aug. 25: A mob of 40-odd persons ransacked Khunti Sadar Hospital and damaged parked ambulances this evening after two youths died in a mishap, claiming one life could have been saved had doctors been present.
Though protesters claimed no doctor was present when the two mishap victims, including one who was alive, were rushed to the hospital and authorities present did not show urgency to shift the surviving one to RIMS, Ranchi, 45km away, the civil surgeon denied the allegations.
Around 3.30pm, two youths - Afzal Khan, 22, and Md Adil, 25, who were on a bike, were hit by a passenger bus on Khunti Main Road. Police cannot confirm who, but one of them died on the spot while the other one was grievously injured.
Bystanders rushed the duo to sadar hospital 3km ago but alleged no doctor was present.
Allegedly, people tried to arrange an ambulance on their own, but failed. By then, the injured victim apparently succumbed to his injuries, which angered the swelling crowd, including relatives of the duo.
Protesters ransacked the hospital's OPD and some wards, overturned furniture, threw medicines and broke the windows of ambulances parked on premises.
Contacted, Khunti civil surgeon Dr Vinod Oraon, rubbished the allegations made by protesters.
Dr Oraon claimed two doctors were available on duty when victims were brought to the hospital.
"One of the victims was brought dead. Medical treatment of other injured victim began immediately. But, he succumbed to his injuries while the dressing of his wounds was on. We couldn't find time to send him to RIMS," he claimed.
Khunti SP Ashwini Kumar Sinha said five persons had so far been detained and were being interrogated. More detentions and arrests would take place soon, he said.
"Our investigations are on. We are trying to contact the bus owner who will be revealing the name other details of the driver and his helpers," the SP added.
A policeman said the passenger bus named Radheshyam was on its way to Simdega from Ranchi when it hit the bike the youths were riding. The bus driver and conductor fled. Passengers too had left when the police seized the bus.
