2 min readBhopalUpdated: Apr 28, 2026 09:50 PM IST
A video showing relatives of a critically injured road accident victim being allegedly forced to clean an ambulance before his transfer has triggered outrage in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district. Hospital authorities said they had taken cognisance of the incident, but claimed no formal complaint had been filed.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO
The incident involves 32-year-old Rahul Barman, who suffered severe injuries in a road accident near Karela village and was brought to the district hospital in Katni. Doctors referred him to Jabalpur after his condition remained critical. During the process of arranging the transfer, a video surfaced, purportedly showing a woman relative washing a 108 ambulance while a staff member stood by, prompting allegations of misconduct within the hospital premises.
Responding to the controversy, Civil Surgeon Dr Yashwant Verma said, “We have not received any written complaint, but we have taken cognisance of the incident. We are asking the ambulance driver for an explanation. The other staff have been warned not to repeat this.”
Officials said notices have been issued to the ambulance driver and the in-charge, seeking their responses within a week, and further action would depend on the explanations submitted. Separately, the private agency operating the ambulance service has terminated two employees allegedly involved in the incident.
Authorities have initiated an inquiry to establish the sequence of events and determine whether the victim’s family was compelled to pay money or clean the ambulance as a precondition for moving the patient.
