Ambulance carrying critical patient catches fire in Odisha’s Pipili

An ambulance carrying a critically ill snakebite patient from Delang in the Puri district to Bhubaneswar caught fire midway, late last night, triggering panic and chaos on the road. Sources reported that the fire broke out near the Selfie Point in Pipili around 11:15 pm while the patient was being rushed to Bhubaneswar Medical College for urgent treatment.

The reports also added that the moving ambulance caught fire, suddenly spewing smoke and flames, forcing the medical staff and driver to act swiftly. Fortunately, the patient and ambulance personnel escaped in time, avoiding any casualties.

Eyewitnesses said the fire spread rapidly, but timely action by the fire department brought the situation under control.

Suspected Cause: Battery Short Circuit

As per preliminary investigations, authorities suspect that a short circuit in the vehicle's battery may have triggered the blaze. However, a probe was started to determine the exact cause of the incident while the ambulance was taken for inspection.

Patient Shifted Safely

Despite the terrifying ordeal, the patient was soon shifted to another ambulance and taken to Bhubaneswar for treatment. The quick thinking of the staff onboard and the prompt response from firefighters helped avert what could have been a tragic accident.

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Concerns Over Ambulance Safety

The incident has raised serious concerns over the safety standards of emergency medical transport vehicles, especially when carrying patients in critical condition. Locals and passersby who witnessed the fire expressed relief that no lives were lost but called for stricter maintenance checks on ambulances operating in the region.

Till the last reports came in, no exact cause behind the fire was identified, and authorities did not offer any additional comments on the matter.