Man struggles for life for want of timely treatment

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Una, September 21

Balbir Singh, a resident of Khad Lamlehri village in Una and heart patient, is struggling for his life at the PGI Chandigarh, for want of timely medical intervention. The ambulance his family had called on Friday morning could not reach his village as the only connecting bridge has been damaged in flashfloods. 

The ambulance driver had no option, but to wait near a rivulet to take the patient to the Una district hospital. He had asked the family to get the patient near the rivulet, which took them 30 minutes to reach him.  

Tek Singh, a resident of Lamlehri village, said the PWD had demolished the old bridge across the rivulet to construct a new one. However, the new bridge washed away in flashfloods, cutting off the village from the district. He said the PWD had failed to make alternative arrangements and even an ambulance could not reach the village. According to information, Balbir Singh, a red card holder, was taken to the Una district hospital, but doctors referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh.  Since no official ambulance was available to take him to Chandigarh, villagers pooled in Rs 2,300 to hire a private ambulance.

Social activist Seema Sharma said the case of Balibir Singh illustrated the poor state of affairs in the remote villages of the district. 

The Una DCwas not available for his comment.