Bhubaneswar: An 11-year-old patient died after an ambulance carrying her broke down on the way to a hospital in Odisha’s Kalahandi district today.

The minor girl was initially admitted to a Community Health Centre (CHC) at Narla after she complained of some health complications.

She was referred to the Kalahandi District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) at Bhawanipatna after her condition deteriorated.

However, the ambulance (108 service) carrying the girl suffered a flat tyre on the way to the DHH. The ambulance remained stuck for three hours midway, causing further deterioration in her health.

She was finally declared dead on arrival by the doctors at the DHH. Her family members have blamed poor ambulance service for her death.

In another incident, two persons, who were critically injured in a road mishap in Bargarh district on Thursday, faced difficulties in reaching the hospital after the ambulance carrying them suffered a breakdown.

Without any alternative, the duo was left without any medical care for over an hour. They finally reached a hospital in Padmapur area after the ambulance driver repaired the vehicle.

The family members of the injured duo as well as the locals have expressed displeasure over the poor quality of ambulance service in Bargarh.