Raiganj, Sept. 8 -- Tension prevailed in Raiganj, North Dinajpur after an ambulance carrying two thunderbolt victims was allegedly detained for nearly 30 minutes at a closed railway level crossing on the old National Highway 34 on Monday evening, resulting in the death of a 28-year-old patient.
The deceased was identified as Ruhul Amin (28), while another injured person, Abdul Majid (32), is undergoing treatment at Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital (RGMCH). The two were reportedly working in a field at Panshala when they were struck by lightning.
According to local residents, the injured duo were being rushed to RGMCH in an ambulance. When the ambulance reached the railway level crossing in Raiganj town both the railway gates were reportedly closed. The ambulance remained stranded at the crossing for around 30 minutes as a stone-laden goods train was moving.
With the patients' condition deteriorating, their relatives allegedly brought them out of the ambulance and carried them on their shoulders before shifting them to a toto. They eventually reached RGMCH, where doctors declared Ruhul Amin dead.
Sariful Hoque, a relative of the deceased, said, "Both Ruhul and Abdul were working in the Makhna field when they were suddenly struck by lightning. Had the rail gate remained open, Ruhul might have been saved."
The incident triggered demands for immediate construction of flyovers over the two railway level crossings in Raiganj. Senior citizen Narendra Madhab Goswami urged public representatives to take steps to prevent such incidents in future.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out at a house near Mahanbati Bazar on Tuesday afternoon. A fire engine reportedly reached the spot late due to traffic congestion near the railway crossing. Fire officials attributed the delay to unplanned toto movement and
congestion in the area.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.