A 69-year-old textile businessman, Rama Shankar Singh, died outside Bandra Railway Station on Tuesday while waiting for a ‘108’ ambulance to take him to the hospital. This tragic incident highlighted significant lapses in Mumbai’s emergency response system, despite a 2014 Bombay High Court (HC) directive mandating ambulance services at suburban railway stations.
Singh, who boarded a Borivali-bound train from Marine Lines at 5 PM, complained of chest uneasiness between Grant Road and Mumbai Central stations. Co-passenger Mehul Sanghrajka alerted the Railway Protection Force (RPF) via helpline ‘1512’. Although RPF personnel checked on Singh at Mahalaxmi station, he assured them he could continue to Bandra. However, Singh collapsed again at Prabhadevi station, prompting Sanghrajka to contact his son, Hari Mohan, and the ‘108’ helpline.
After alighting from the train, Hari Mohan took his father to the ambulance deployed outside the station. Despite the station master insisting that he was having a heart attack and hence must be rushed to a nearby hospital, the driver argued citing protocols and lack of approvals from seniors. Also, there is no doctor near the ambulance.
Hari Mohan recalled, “The ambulance driver insisted on a doctor’s call before acting. My father was standing in front of a locked ambulance door, feeling dizzy, I made him lie down on a stretcher; minutes later he collapsed in my arms.”
Dr. Harris Sheikh, assigned to the ambulance, claimed Singh’s health worsened because people placed him in the ambulance.
High Court order of 2014
The HC’s 2014 order mandated ambulances with doctors at all suburban stations to ensure timely medical aid within the critical ‘Golden Hour.’ The state government appointed BVG India Limited to operate the ‘108’ service, specifying a four-minute response time. Delays of over 20-30 minutes would attract fines of ₹1 lakh per minute. However, Singh’s case reveals systemic negligence, with protocols failing when needed most.
This incident highlights the gap between policy and practice, leaving passengers vulnerable in emergencies.
“This tragic incident is a wake-up call for the authorities. Action must be taken against the government ambulance service for its failure to provide timely assistance, resulting in the loss of a precious life. Strict guidelines must be issued to prevent such incidents in the future, and the number of ambulances on the Central Railway must be increased to ensure prompt medical aid during emergencies.”
