An infant admitted to a private hospital in Kaithal for treatment and referred to PGI Chandigarh died when the oxygen gas cylinder became empty on way to the hospital.

On a complaint filed by father of the deceased, police have registered a case against the owner of the ambulance Pardeep and an unknown driver under section 304-A IPC . The father of the deceased infant , Sahil also made complaints to Chief Medical Officer and RTA to inquire into the matter and demanded action against the guilty. Mr Sahil said his one and half months old son Vihav was suffering from fever and was under treatment at a Kaithal hospital since 13th September evening.

On 14th September the attending doctor referred the patient to PGI. Sahil said he got the mobile number of private ambulance owner and driver from hospital staff. He was told that charges for oxygen cylinder fitted ambulance were Rs 2880 and he agreed and hired the vehicle. However, when the Ambulance reached near Pehowa it appeared that oxygen was likely to exhaust .

The driver was asked to get the cylinder filled but he ignored and ruled out any problem on this account. But the ambulance apparently ran out of oxygen on way to the health centre. Meanwhile, the condition of the child deteriorated and the driver rushed the ambulance to a Pehowa hospital where the doctors declared the child brought dead on 14th September. The kin of the deceased have blamed the owner and driver of the ambulance for death of their child .

Pardeep, owner of the ambulance said when they received a call for the emergency van the two oxygen cylinders were functioning well. But when on the way problem in oxygen cylinder was detected the driver wanted to get it checked. However, those accompanying the patient insisted on not stopping the vehicle so as to let it reach Chandigarh fast.

Meanwhile, Raju Dohar, a social activist has demanded an inquiry into the running of private ambulances and irregularities being committed by them .