Maharashtra EMS denies allegations of negligence in death of 70-year-old businessman at Bandra railway station

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) vehemently denied a report in a section of the media that a 70-year-old businessman Rama Shankar Singh (70) died at Bandra railway station because the ambulance driver refused to take him to Hinduja. Hospital on December 24.

In a detailed response, MEMS said that Singh, who was suffering from dizziness, collapsed at the station. A call was received from Harimohan Singh, son of the deceased, in control room ‘108’ at 5.38 pm. Ambulance ‘108’ stationed at Bandra Railway Station (vehicle number MH14CL1276) was dispatched at 17:41 with incident ID 2024122405475. GPS records indicate that the ambulance left Bandra Railway Station at 17:44 and arrived at the Hospital Hinduja. 18:00. Thus the ambulance left with Rama Shankar Singh within three minutes of receiving the call. MEMS also provided GPS records to back up its claims. Singh, a resident of Bandra East, was in the garment business. His son was not available for comment as he was performing the last rites.

About Case

Singh had boarded a Borivali-bound local train at Marine Lines around 5 pm on Tuesday. While on the train, he experienced chest pains and collapsed. Co-passenger Mehul Sanghrajka contacted Singh’s son and helped him alight at Bandra station. According to Sanghrajka, Singh managed to walk to the ambulance, but the ambulance driver allegedly wasted time waiting for the doctor and cited other technical reasons. Unfortunately, Singh died on the way to the hospital.

However, MEMS provided proof of timing, including when the call was received, when the ambulance left Bandra station and when the patient was handed over to the hospital. When contacted, Western Railway Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek said the news is misleading.

The ambulance driving contract was done by the state government. “We received a call from a co-passenger and railway staff assisted the person during the journey at several points. They initially refused any help but later called for ambulance support which was quickly provided at Bandra Railway Station. Unfortunately, the patient might not survive, Western Railway has several medical facilities in the stations like first aid boxes, AED machines, ambulances etc. In fact, recently one of our railway staff saved the life of a passenger at the Marine Lines station.”

Abhishek also said that we have also recently launched Namaste Health app in collaboration with a private agency for emergency teleconsultation for our suburban station commuters. According to the station master, after receiving the information, the passenger was given all the necessary support in the shortest possible time.