Patient Dies After Police Halt Ambulance For Chief Minister’s Convoy

A critically ill 42-year-old patient has died in India after the ambulance carrying him was stopped by police while a convoy of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma passed through Silchar.

The patient, identified as Rasaraj Chakraborty from Sribhumi district, died at Silchar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday morning while receiving treatment for a severe liver condition.

According to reports from India, Chakraborty had been brought to Silchar for advanced medical treatment after his condition became critical.His ambulance was stopped at the Ramnagar ISBT point on Wednesday as police cleared the road for Sarma’s convoy.

Video footage showing the ambulance waiting while the convoy passed later circulated on social media and generated public criticism.

Four police personnel involved in the incident were subsequently suspended and placed under departmental investigation for alleged negligence of duty.

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Sarma apologised to the patient’s family and said the practice of stopping ambulances to facilitate VIP movements was unacceptable.

However, authorities have stressed that the patient’s death should not automatically be attributed to the delay caused by the convoy.

The principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Abhijit Swami, said Chakraborty was suffering from liver cirrhosis and died while undergoing treatment.

A family member also stated that the patient was already in critical condition before the ambulance was stopped and that the delay lasted about 30 minutes.

The family member said the delay was not responsible for his death.

Sarma similarly said he did not believe the ambulance stoppage caused the death, while opposing the practice of delaying emergency vehicles.

“The patient was suffering from liver issues and I do not believe that the ambulance halt was connected to the death, but I am strongly against this culture of halting emergency services to pass VIP convoys,” he said.

Following the incident, the Assam government directed officials to ensure that ambulances and other emergency vehicles were not obstructed during VIP movements.

The Chief Minister’s Office also directed that Sarma’s convoy should be stopped whenever necessary to allow emergency vehicles to pass. The convoy was further ordered to remain limited to the minimum number of vehicles required for security and essential duties.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the circumstances surrounding Chakraborty’s death and the ambulance delay are being treated separately by the authorities. The suspensions and investigation focus on the conduct of the police personnel and the reported obstruction of an emergency vehicle.