MARGAO
The emergency healthcare system came under sharp criticism in Chinchinim on Monday after citizens alleged a delay in the arrival of the 108 ambulance following two separate road accidents in the area.
The first accident occurred on NH66 at Dandeavaddo, while the second took place on the internal Dandeavaddo-Sarzora road. In both cases, locals raised concerns over the response time of the 108 ambulance service.
At the NH66 accident site, a man was found lying on the roadside. Public-spirited citizens who stopped to assist the victim said they called the 108 ambulance but had to wait for a considerable period before it arrived.
Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, who was travelling to Quepem, stopped at the spot to assess the situation and said the emergency healthcare system needed to be streamlined to meet the growing requirements.
Locals and motorists also criticised the delay, with one motorist claiming that the ambulance had still not reached the spot even 45 minutes after the call was made.
Citizens questioned why there was no dedicated ambulance service to cater to accident victims along the National Highway, particularly given the volume of traffic and accidents reported on the stretch.
The second accident, on the Dandeavaddo-Sarzora road, triggered further outrage after residents alleged that the 108 ambulance did not respond promptly to the emergency call.
Following calls from local residents, Cuncolim Police Station in-charge PI Diego Gracias intervened and police personnel transported the injured victim to the hospital in a police jeep. However, the victim was later declared brought dead at the Hospicio South Goa District Hospital.
The incidents prompted citizens to demand not only an expansion and strengthening of the ambulance fleet but also proper training for personnel manning the 108 service. Locals alleged that ambulance staff sometimes take considerable time to locate accident sites, further delaying emergency medical assistance.
Former Sarzora sarpanch Sabita Mascarenhas said the delay in the arrival of the 108 ambulance highlighted the need to either strengthen the existing system or substantially increase the number of ambulances available to respond to emergencies.
The incidents have once again raised questions over the preparedness and response time of Goa's emergency ambulance network, particularly in handling road accidents in areas where timely medical intervention can prove critical.
