Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against Ashok Kumar Bharti, the manager of Ms Bhushan Service Station situated in Tengrahi village, following the tragic death of a 50-year-old man. The man’s demise reportedly occurred due to delays in reaching the hospital, which he allegedly faced after a private ambulance was denied fuel at the petrol pump. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act.

The case was filed on Saturday, April 22, following a complaint lodged by Supply Inspector Indresh Kumar Tiwari. According to police reports, the manager, during the subsequent inquiry, acknowledged that the ambulance arrived at the petrol pump around 9.20 pm, requesting fuel after running out of petrol. However, he claimed that fuel was not dispensed due to alleged non-availability.

Incident Details and Investigation Findings

According to the police, the ambulance spent approximately 15 minutes at the petrol station, where it was reportedly denied the much-needed fuel. A review of inventory records revealed that the petrol pump had a sufficient supply on the day of the incident, including 4,595 litres of motor spirit, 4,784 litres of high-speed diesel, and 3,475 litres of premium petrol. This discrepancy raises questions regarding the refusal of fuel to the ambulance.

District Magistrate Mangla Prasad Singh stated that an inquiry was conducted under the oversight of the Additional District Magistrate, involving a team that included the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Bairia and the District Supply Officer. The findings of this investigation prompted officials to take legal action and register a case against the pump manager.

Circle Officer Mohammad Fahim Qureshi confirmed that the police have commenced a formal investigation into the incident and are actively searching for the accused manager. In a related statement, the District Supply Officer Devmani Mishra mentioned that the patient, identified as Chhatthu Sharma, fell critically ill the night of April 22, prompting his family to attempt to transport him to the district hospital in a private ambulance.

Family’s Account and Additional Evidence

The family reported that while travelling, the ambulance ran out of petrol, leading them to seek assistance at a nearby petrol station. Allegedly, the pump operator refused their request for fuel, claiming there was a shortage. Tragically, Chhatthu Sharma reportedly died enroute to the hospital due to the delays caused by the fuel refusal.

The District Magistrate further added that CCTV footage from the petrol station corroborated the ambulance’s visit, confirming that fuel was requested but not provided. Despite the operator’s claim of low fuel stock, an inspection indicated that adequate supplies were available at the station at the time.

In response to the situation, representatives from Indian Oil have visited the site, and further actions regarding the petrol pump are anticipated based on the outcomes of ongoing investigations. Officials are taking measures to ensure accountability as the matter unfolds.

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