On August 29, what should have been a life-saving journey for a critically ill man turned into a horrifying ordeal that exposed the darker sides of humanity. This is the story of a grieving wife, a dying husband, and a brother—all victims of unimaginable cruelty and negligence.
The Unfolding of a Nightmare
The incident began when a woman, her critically ill husband, and her brother hired an ambulance from Indiranagar in Lucknow to travel 270 kilometers to Siddharthnagar. The patient, relying on an oxygen mask to survive, had been discharged from a private hospital due to exorbitant treatment costs and a lack of improvement in his condition. The family hoped the ambulance would provide a safe and swift journey home, but instead, it became a setting for betrayal.
Early into the trip, the ambulance driver and his aide displayed troubling behavior. After stopping at a roadside eatery in Ayodhya, they consumed alcohol while the patient lay in critical condition. When they returned to the vehicle, their behavior became even more sinister. Trapping the woman in the front seat between them, they began making inappropriate advances.
Despite her resistance and protests, the men grew more aggressive. Her brother, seated in the back with the patient, screamed for help, banging on the partition between the cabin and the rear of the ambulance. His cries were ignored as the driver continued on, oblivious to the family’s distress.
Violence on the Road
The situation reached a horrific climax near Basti. Furious at the woman’s resistance, the driver and his aide stopped the ambulance on a main road. In a shocking act of cruelty, they ripped the oxygen mask off the patient and threw him out of the vehicle. When her brother tried to intervene, he was physically assaulted and dragged into the cabin alongside her. The two perpetrators then robbed the woman of her valuables, including her purse, jewelry, and anklets, before forcing both siblings out of the vehicle and driving off.
The critically ill patient, left on the roadside without oxygen, succumbed to his injuries and deteriorating condition. His fragile state and the violence inflicted upon him had taken him beyond the point of survival.
Struggles for Justice
The tragedy didn’t end with the loss of a loved one. The grieving family faced significant hurdles in seeking justice. Police initially refused to file an FIR, citing jurisdictional issues. It took intervention from senior officers and relentless efforts by the family before an FIR was finally lodged on September 4.
The main accused, Suraj Tiwari, surrendered to the authorities on September 12. However, the delay in justice and the systemic failures that allowed this tragedy to occur have left lasting scars on the family.
A Call for Accountability
This incident highlights not only the personal grief and trauma endured by the family but also systemic issues within healthcare, emergency services, and law enforcement. It serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for reforms to ensure the safety and dignity of those relying on critical care services.
As the family continues to seek justice, their story stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty and loss. This case demands accountability—not just from the perpetrators but also from the systems that failed to protect those they were meant to serve.