Balasore: Tension gripped Basta village here on Monday after a 50-year-old woman died allegedly due to lack of oxygen in a 108 government ambulance. Villagers claimed that the woman had died as there was no technician in the vehicle to provide her with oxygen.

Though the dial 108 ambulance service has the provision for essential oxygen supply, no technician was available as they are on strike since January 25demanding job regularisation and better pay.

Runumani Das of Jahata village in Gadapada area gasped for breath for a while before she fell silent. Family members were taking her to a health care facility, only half-a-kilometre away, after she complained of breathing difficulty.

The doctor in charge of the health care centre, Arun Kumar Bhuyan, admitted that she could not be administered oxygen at the crucial time as no technician had accompanied the vehicle due to the ongoing strike. "Runumani was declared dead on arrival here. Her life could have been saved if she were given oxygen on time," he said.

As the news of her death spread, her aggrieved relatives and local residents gheraoed the health care centre demanding action against the striking technician and compensation for the family members of the deceased. Senior officials of the district administration had to rush to spot to pacify them.

Chief district medical officer Vivekananda Das said the ambulances were managed independently by a state organisation and the service was under the control of a co-ordinator. "I had directed the co-ordinator of the district to manage the emergency service with help of alternative workforce as the technicians are on strike. But now it seems that my advice was ignored. I have sought a report on the death from the district co-ordinator of the ambulance service," he said.

District ambulance service co-ordinator Nagendra Panda expressed his helplessness and said: "The drivers, attendants, technicians and pharmacists of ambulances are on strike. Despite repeated appeals, they are not resuming their duties. Training of new personnel is on," said Panda.

He said only 40 per cent of the 27 ambulances in the district had required staff. Panda added that the remaining ambulances would be provided with skilled manpower in a couple of days.

District collector Ramesh Chandra Rout said he would seek a report from the district medical head.