This letter is written with deep anguish and outrage over a tragic and completely avoidable death that occurred during gram sabha meeting at Santa Cruz on Sunday exposing the shocking apathy of authorities towards emergency medical preparedness at public events. During the meeting a 70-year-old citizen collapsed in full public view. Precious minutes passed, yet no ambulance arrived. Local residents had no choice but to transport the victim in a private car to Goa Medical College, Bambolim, where he was declared brought dead. One is compelled to ask, had timely medical assistance been available, would this life have been saved? This heartbreaking incident is not just an unfortunate event, it is a grave failure of governance. Gram Sabha meetings are official government gatherings attended by hundred, including elderly citizens. Despite this, there was no ambulance on standby, no medical personnel, and no emergency protocol in place. How many more citizens must collapse and die before authorities wake up? Is a human life worth less than administrative convenience? Mandatory deployment of ambulances, first-aid facilities, and trained medical staff at all public meetings and large gatherings must be enforced. The government must act now.
