BJP leader blocks way for ambulance; delay kills patient

A BJP leader from Fatehabad in Haryana is accused of blocking an ambulance for nearly half-an-hour in a busy street leading to the death of a patient who needed urgent treatment.

Coming after the harassment of a Chandigarh woman by state BJP president Subash Barala’s son, the Fatehabad incident has further embarrassed the saffron party.

Brought dead

The family of the patient, Naveen Soni (42), brought dead to the hospital, allege that BJP leader Darshan Nagpal’s car hit the ambulance on Saturday evening while they were on the move with the patient on board.

Nagpal, also the president of the municipal council, refused to allow the ambulance to move ahead for about half an hour causing inordinate delay, family members Sita Ram Soni and Arun Soni alleged on Monday.

They allege that Nagpal demanded compensation for damages from the ambulance driver for hitting his car, adding that had Nagpal not stopped the ambulance for that long, the patients life could have been saved.

Denied charges

Nagpal denied the charges saying there is no question of stopping the ambulance.

A complaint has been filed with the police which said they were investigating the matter and both the parties have been summoned to record their statements.

Sources said Nagpal denied blocking the way for the car though the ambulance hit his vehicle.

He said he spoke to the ambulance driver after the patient had been dropped at the hospital.