Gaighat, November 23

A three-month-old boy of Triyuga municipality died on way to hospital for want of timely treatment, as the ambulance carrying the baby was halted by the activists of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front in Udaypur this afternoon.

As the agitating activists of UDMF were obstructing traffic along the East West Highway and did not allow the ambulance carrying the infant to hospital, Dhan Bahadur Budathoki’s three-month-old son Padam breathed his last on way to hospital.

The infant, who had been undergoing treatment at District Hospital, Udaypur, for the past two days, succumbed to pneumonia. The health workers had referred Padam to Biratnagar-based Nobel Hospital this morning, as his treatment was not possible at the health facility.

The baby was being taken to Biratnagar in an ambulance run by local Him Shikhar Multi-purpose Cooperative. Dhan Bahadur said they were delayed by hours after the ambulance was stopped at Shambhunath, Rupani and Kanchanpur of Saptari.

Dhan Bahadur claimed that the ambulance was not allowed to move even after he told the demonstrators that his son was seriously ill.

Ambulance driver Mehabub Raja said he also pleaded in vain with the demonstrators to allow the vehicle to pass.

On November 20, activists of the agitating front had vandalised an ambulance ferrying an ill child to hospital at Katahari, Morang. The child’s mother was hurt in the attack.

They had also attacked an ambulance carrying a patient, who was being administered artificial oxygen, in Duhabi of Sunsari, on Saturday. The patient was referred to Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences from Biratnagar’s City Hospital. Driver Ananda BK was seriously injured in the attack.

Protesting frequent attacks, ambulance drivers have stopped ambulance services in Morang, Sunsari and Jhapa districts since Sunday.

They say the service will not resume until their security is guaranteed.