Odisha: Ambulance driver on way to hospital halts to have a drink, serves peg to patient

Odisha: An ambulance driver in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur stopped his vehicle on the way to a hospital and offered his injured passenger a peg. The driver also poured a drink himself. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

The video shows the ambulance driver making pegs, of what seems to be an alcoholic beverage, for himself and the patient. The driver parked the ambulance on the side of a highway in Tirtol area. While the driver was seen gulping his peg down at one go, the patient, with one leg plastered, sipped his drink while lying down on the stretcher.

The bizarre incident came to light on Monday after bystanders took videos and uploaded those on social media. They also confronted the driver, but he claimed that the patient himself had asked for a drink. A woman and a child were also seen in the ambulance. 

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Jagatsinghpur Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr Kshetrabasi Dash told PTI, "Since it was a private ambulance, we don't have much to say. But the RTO and the police station concerned must take action against the erring driver." Angry over the incident, residents of the area have demanded a probe into the incident and strict action against the ambulance driver.

Jugal Kishore Das, inspector in-charge of Tirtol Police Station, said no formal complaint has been lodged and an investigation will be launched only if an FIR is registered. Drunk driving, is, however, considered to be a traffic offence.

(With inputs from PTI)