On Thursday evening, a private ambulance was transporting Sujoshi Prick, a 35‑year‑old resident of Kuntapoi village in Mayurbhanj district, from Utkal Hospital to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar for continued treatment of chronic heart disease. The patient’s condition required supplemental oxygen, and the ambulance crew had prepared an oxygen cylinder for administration during the journey.
Around 8:45 PM, as the ambulance traveled, the driver opened the valve of the oxygen cylinder to begin delivering oxygen to Sujoshi Prick. According to the official account, the valve was opened in the routine manner, but an unexpected leak of gas occurred at that moment.
The unexpected leak of gas from the oxygen cylinder caused a fire to break out inside the ambulance.
The patient did not survive the incident and was pronounced dead on site.
The fire spread rapidly through the ambulance.
The buildup of pressure and heat caused the oxygen cylinder to explode. The force of the blast was sufficient to rupture the ambulance’s roof, which separated from the vehicle and was thrown approximately 40 feet away from the point of impact. The entire ambulance then became engulfed in fire.
Sujoshi Prick, who was still inside the ambulance when the explosion occurred, died in the flames at the scene. The patient did not survive the incident and was pronounced dead on site.
Two individuals, identified as Sarat Pradhan and Mashi Mundha, rushed to help the patient despite the danger. While attempting to pull Sujoshi Prick from the burning ambulance, both sustained severe burn injuries. They were immediately taken to Utkal Hospital for emergency treatment.
Fire brigade personnel arrived promptly and extinguished the blaze. The incident caused panic among those in the hospital compound.
Utkal Police Station registered a case concerning the cylinder explosion, the loss of life, and the injuries inflicted. Officers are conducting an investigation to determine the precise cause of the unexpected gas leak and to assess any liability or procedural failures that may have contributed to the tragedy.