Boy killed in car accident near Anni; father, brother injured

A heart-breaking accident occurred in Anni subdivision of Kullu district yesterday, in which a father and his two sons were involved in a devastating car crash. The elder son, Aditya (15), died on the spot, while the injured father, Vijender, and younger son, Naitik (13), were left without timely medical assistance due to a statewide ambulance strike.

With no emergency services available, villagers rushed the injured duo to a hospital in a private vehicle. The strike by 108 and 102 ambulance employees began on Thursday at 8 pm and lasted until Friday night, paralysing emergency healthcare across Himachal Pradesh. Ambulances remained parked outside hospitals, unmanned, leaving patients in critical need stranded and vulnerable.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 3.30 pm on Friday. The family was travelling in a Swift car from Anni to Deem when its driver lost control over the vehicle near the Shupdharthi curve, approximately 7 km from Anni, and plunged into a deep gorge. Locals quickly mobilised rescue efforts, but Aditya succumbed to his injuries instantly. Vijender and Naitik were seriously hurt and, with no ambulance available, were rushed by villagers to Anni Hospital in a private vehicle.

Vijender, in critical condition, was later referred to Mahatma Gandhi Khaneri Hospital in Rampur and subsequently shifted to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla for advanced care. Naitik was also transferred to the IGMC, Shimla, for further treatment.

The absence of ambulance services caused widespread disruption across multiple districts. Khaneri Hospital in Rampur, which serves four districts, reported that at least 22 emergency patients arrived during the strike using private transport, often traveling 45 km to 60 km and incurring significant financial and emotional strain.

The striking ambulance workers - many with over 14 to 15 years of service - are demanding job regularisation and improved working conditions. Their union has warned of an indefinite strike if their demands are not addressed promptly.

The tragic death of Aditya and the suffering of emergency patients across the state have ignited public concern over the consequences of prolonged healthcare strikes, raising serious questions over contingency planning and the resilience of emergency services in the times of crisis.