A 35-year-old patient died and two people were injured after an oxygen cylinder allegedly exploded inside a private ambulance outside Udala sub-divisional hospital in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Thursday evening, police said.
The deceased was identified as Sujosh Barik of Kundabai village, which falls under the limits of Udala police station. He was reportedly suffering from a severe blood infection and was being transferred to a hospital in Bhubaneswar when the incident occurred.
According to police, the explosion happened when the ambulance driver opened the oxygen cylinder valve to administer oxygen to the patient. A reported gas leak triggered a fire inside the vehicle, which was followed by the cylinder explosion. The blast was powerful enough to blow off the roof of the ambulance.
The patient’s family members and local residents pulled him out of the burning vehicle. He had suffered severe burn injuries and died within minutes, police said. Two other people were also injured by burns while attempting to rescue him.
Fire services personnel later reached the spot and brought the blaze under control. Eyewitnesses described panic among people near the hospital after the explosion.
Local resident Sarat Pradhan said the blast occurred suddenly while the patient and the ambulance driver were inside the vehicle. Residents rushed to the ambulance and helped with the rescue, but doctors later declared the patient dead.
Another eyewitness, Sudam Behera, said the explosion took place while the driver was opening the cylinder to provide oxygen. He said the force of the blast frightened people in the surrounding area.
Banamali Barik, officer-in-charge of Udala police station, said the patient died after sustaining severe burns in the fire triggered by the oxygen cylinder explosion. Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the fire and blast. The supplied report did not specify whether the ambulance, cylinder or associated equipment had undergone recent safety inspection or maintenance.
