Tirupati:Patient succumbs as ambulance drivers mafia obstructs his vehicle

Tirupati: The organised ambulance mafia at Ruia Hospital in Tirupati has claimed one life on Tuesday when they attacked the driver of another ambulance and stalled the vehicle. The 75-year-old patient was suffering from brain stroke and other age related ailments.

K Venkataramana, son of a patient Venkatappa of Kallavaripalle in Rompicherla mandal of Chittoor district wanted to take his father to his village as his condition was deteriorating. He approached the private ambulances at Ruia Hospital for the purpose who demanded Rs.8,500 for about 50 km distance. As the drivers of different ambulances have demanded the same rate, he managed to book another private ambulance online for Rs.3,500.

Soon after the patient was shifted into the ambulance, its driver was beaten up and the keys were taken away by four persons who were operating their ambulances from Ruia hospital. The son of the patient has said that the other drivers did not allow them to connect oxygen to his father. During this tussle, the patient has died due to lack of oxygen, he complained.

He said that, though his father's condition was bad, they wanted to take him back to their village so that all near and dear can see him for the last time. Because of the high handedness of the ambulance drivers at Ruia Hospital, he could not take his father to the village.

He wrote a letter to the Superintendent of Ruia Hospital Dr T Bharati to take action against those responsible for the incident. Alipiri police filed the case and started investigation.