A 35-year-old patient died and two people suffered burn injuries after an oxygen cylinder exploded inside a private ambulance outside Udala Sub-Divisional Hospital in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Thursday, police said.
The deceased, identified as Sujosh Barik of Kundabai under Udala police station limits, was being shifted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar for treatment of a severe blood infection when the ambulance caught fire. The incident occurred outside the hospital, where the vehicle had stopped during the patient’s transfer.
According to police, the ambulance driver opened the oxygen cylinder valve to provide oxygen to Barik. A suspected leak then triggered a fire inside the vehicle, which intensified rapidly before the cylinder exploded.
“The patient died inside the ambulance due to the fire caused by the oxygen cylinder blast. Two others also suffered burn injuries while rescuing the patient,” Banamali Barik, inspector-in-charge of Udala police station, said, according to the report.
Family members managed to pull Barik out of the burning ambulance. Police said he had suffered severe burn injuries and died within minutes. The force of the explosion was strong enough to blow off the ambulance’s roof.
The two other injured people suffered burns while attempting to rescue the patient. Firefighters later brought the blaze under control. The report did not identify the injured individuals or provide details of their medical condition.
The ambulance had been hired from a private operator. The incident places attention on the safety arrangements surrounding emergency patient transfers, where oxygen cylinders are used inside confined vehicle compartments and patients may be unable to move without assistance. The supplied report, however, does not establish whether the ambulance, cylinder or fittings had undergone a recent safety inspection, or whether any maintenance lapse contributed to the suspected leak.
The case also highlights the vulnerability of patients during transfers between healthcare facilities. Barik was being moved to Bhubaneswar for treatment, indicating that the transfer was part of a wider care journey from a district-level facility to a larger hospital. The report does not state the distance, transfer time or the medical reasons for selecting the private ambulance operator.
Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident. The investigation is expected to establish how the fire began, whether the suspected oxygen leak resulted from the cylinder, valve or connecting equipment, and whether the vehicle and equipment met applicable safety requirements. No further official findings were provided in the report.
