Illegal parking delays ambulance at Hospital gate, newborn dies

A tragic incident occurred at Alipurduar District Headquarters Hospital when a newborn baby died after the ambulance transporting the mother was delayed due to illegal motorbike parking. The incident has raised serious concerns about the hospital's parking regulations and emergency response efficiency.

Twenty-four-year-old Sushmita Santal, a pregnant bride, was initially admitted to Rangamati local hospital in Kalchini. She was subsequently referred to Latabari Block Hospital and later to Alipurduar District Headquarters Hospital for further care. However, the ambulance carrying Sushmita encountered significant delays as it got stuck in a cluster of illegally parked motorbikes blocking the hospital entrance.

The delay reportedly resulted in Sushmita giving birth on the street. Despite immediate medical attention, the newborn unfortunately did not survive. The incident has highlighted severe issues with vehicle parking and emergency access at the hospital.

The Zilla Sadar Hospital authorities have acknowledged the complaint regarding illegal bike parking but have denied that it was responsible for the child’s death. They claim the situation was managed according to standard protocols. However, the hospital’s response has been met with skepticism by the public, who argue that better parking enforcement could have prevented the tragedy.