Cuttack: There had been continuous demands from the District Union of the Ambulance Employees’ Association. The union had also raised similar demands in the case of Achyutananda. Giving importance to the demand, MB Green Health Services, the agency responsible for ambulance transport in Jajpur district, provided an immediate assistance of Rs10,000 to Achyutananda’s family for the cremation of his body. Additionally, upon submission of required documents, Rs5 lakh will be provided as ex-gratia compensation, and another Rs5 lakh will be given under accident insurance from the company, totaling Rs10 lakh. This commitment was reportedly made to the family by Jajpur District Officer Soumya Ranjan Das.
On Friday late night, a 108 ambulance returning from discharging a patient at the hospital met with an accident at Rathuā, located on National Highway 16 under Dharamshala police limits. In the incident, Achyutananda Barik, an assistant from Dasharathpur area, died on the spot, while the driver and pharmacist sustained injuries. The agency responsible for the transport had been engaging staff in continuous duty shifts of over 8 hours without additional pay, making them work more than the standard schedule. As a result, ambulance workers are increasingly becoming victims of accidents, according to the All Odisha 108 Employees’ Association.