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Banke incident: Ambulance driver did not bother to reach the site due to lack of PPE


17 May 2020  

Time taken to read : 3 Minute


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KATHMANDU: The 25-year-old youth, who died while in quarantine in Banke, after testing positive with coronavirus, had returned from Mumbai on May 12.

Notwithstanding his struggle to enter Nepal by covering such a long distance, he could not meet his family members as he was taken to a quarantine center at Naraina in Banke district.

He stayed with 38 other people in the quarantine. Until Saturday, he was in good health. However, he had a fever on Saturday night and difficulty in breathing.

The local authorities called an ambulance, which, unfortunately, did not come on time. He then breathed his last at around 6:30 am on Sunday.

Then was heard the siren of the ambulance, which was too late now. It returned without taking the body of the youth.

Medical Superintendent of Bheri Hospital, Dr Prakash Thapa said the youth was suffering from diarrhea and vomiting since 3 am on Sunday.

Since the report was his swab specimen was yet to come, his body was kept in the quarantine itself until Sunday afternoon.

The reason for his death was uncertain as postmortem is not carried out of those who have tested positive for coronavirus.

According to Krishna Chandra Maurya, Chairperson of Narainapur rural municipality-5, the ambulance driver was hesitant to carry the body as he had no personal protective equipment (PPE).

The rural municipality has two ambulances. Maurya said he came to know about the youth’s death only at around 8 am on Sunday.

Unfortunately, nobody stepped forward to give him water when he was desperately asking to quench his thirst.
“We do not have PPE, hence we cannot go inside the quarantine,” he said.

Local authorities have entrusted two locals to bury the body of the Muslim youth. However, those burying the body need to compulsorily stay in quarantine for 14 days.

Publish Date : 17 May 2020 21:23 PM

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