Shimla, May 30Â
A lady tourist hailing from West Bengal who suffered fracture injuries near Kalibari temple around 6.15 PM today could not avail ambulance service for hours as the entire town remained barricaded for PM’s rally for tomorrow. An employee at BSNL told us that the lady who claimed to be a doctor had to wait for hours to get 108 service, which did not respond, perhaps due to security measures in town. He said that it was after a prolonged wait that she was taken to medical aid in the police reporting room van (not an ambulance) to DDU.
It is being told that the victim had cancer and was highly vulnerable to fracture. She would require emergency care to be operated on for treatment, a police officer who attended the emergency told us.
Madan, who is a resident, said that patient fell after a monkey attack and suffered significant fracture injuries. Commoners rue the arrangements in case of emergency and state that if anyone suffers from a heart attack patient could die midway in such a situation.
It is worthwhile to mention that the Shimla town Ridge Ground and mall road have never been closed for ambulances/patients, but the apathy of administration is forcing many to suffer like this. Entire Ridge ground and Mall road have been barricaded for PM rally where the BJP has claimed to gather 50 thousand crowds tomorrow.
The town currently is witnessing an unprecedented footfall of tourists due to the sweltering heatwave in the plain. Four public schools in the main city area have been ordered to close tomorrow. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that no public holiday was required to be declared tomorrow as the rally would last for only two hours. However, residents are blaming the state government and administration for closing public passages and many internal roads, which is creating problems for common man.
