Baripada: A tragic incident occurred on Thursday evening at the Udala sub-divisional hospital in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, where a patient lost his life and two others sustained serious injuries after an ambulance caught fire and exploded.

The victim has been identified as Sujosh Barik, who lived in the Kundabai area under the jurisdiction of Udala police. Barik was suffering from a severe body infection.

Reports indicate that the ambulance had arrived to transport Barik to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar for more advanced medical care. He was already inside the vehicle receiving oxygen when a sudden leak from the oxygen cylinder ignited a fire. The flames quickly escalated, resulting in a powerful explosion of the cylinder. Although family members and local witnesses attempted to rescue Barik from the burning ambulance during the early moments of the fire, he unfortunately passed away shortly after. Initial reports pointed to burn injuries, but accounts suggest that the shock from the explosion may have also played a significant role in his demise.

As the fire spread, a second explosion occurred, tearing off the roof of the ambulance and propelling it nearly 40 feet into the air. Debris from the explosion fell onto other patients nearby, resulting in critical injuries for two individuals. The loud blast caused widespread panic, affecting the nearby market area and the local police station.

Firefighters arrived promptly to control the fire and mitigate further damage to the hospital premises. Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause of the oxygen cylinder leak and the subsequent explosions.