HETAUDA: Ambulances operating in Makawanpur district have been refusing to go to remote areas to carry patients citing fuel shortage. Service seekers said ambulances operated by Hetauda Hospital, Red Cross and other organisations have been refusing to transport patients. One of the ambulances refused to take pregnant Sunita Prajapati to hospital from Hetauda Sub-metropolitan a few days ago. Prajapati’s relatives had requested the ambulance to take her to the hospital, but in vain. The relatives said the drivers had hung up the phone saying they had no fuel to operate their vehicles. Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Ram Prasad Thapaliya said emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire brigades were provided with fuel on recommendation of the local administration.