Gumla: A 15-year-old student from Chainpur block in Gumla district died on Wednesday while being taken to Rims in Ranchi, with her family alleging negligence in treatment and failure of ambulance services.Family members alleged that Shivani Kumari developed a severe headache after her meal while getting ready for school. She was rushed to the community health centre (CHC) in Chainpur, where her parents alleged, she did not receive prompt attention for nearly three hours.Her father, Rajkumar Lohara, claimed that the CHC’s ambulance could not be used due to a technical fault. “As we hired a private vehicle, oxygen was not provided. My daughter was taken to Sadar Hospital in a critical condition but was referred to Rims. On the way, my daughter died,” he said.Shivani’s mother, Rajmuni, accused health authorities of failing to provide proper treatment at both the CHC and Sadar Hospital, alleging that precious time was lost.Gumla civil surgeon Dr Shambhu Choudhary denied the negligence charge. “The doctor at Chainpur CHC referred the girl to Sadar Hospital. But the 108 ambulance operated by a private agency roped in by the health department was found to have broken down,” he said.He said he has directed in-charge doctors of all CHCs in the district to prepare a checklist of ambulance conditions so that the matter can be reported to the higher authorities.
