‘Creepy’ sounds from ambulances at night create panic among locals in Odisha’s Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda: Defunct ambulances near the district headquarters hospitals in Jharsuguda turned into a haunted place as sounds reportedly coming from those vehicles at night reportedly scared residents in the past few days.

According to reports, the locals heard some creepy sounds from the ambulances that have been unfunctional since the past few months at Kumarpada area near Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital.

Locals said that they heard some unnatural and scary horn sound and sometimes the indicator lights of ambulances suddenly get switched on. At times, they find ambulance doors automatically open up. These incidents created panic among the locals.

On receiving information about it, the local administration officials reached the spot where they also heard ‘horrifying’ sounds coming from an ambulance.

Earlier, that ‘haunted’ ambulance was parked near a temple of Goddess Kali. After the locals complained of some scary sounds, the vehicle was shifted to Kumarpada.

Reports said that the ambulances and mobile doctor team vans are being purchased every year from the District Mineral Foundation of Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts for regular health check-up of residents affected due to mining operation in Jharsuguda. However, the administration failed to get those vehicles engaged in service of people. Rather, the ambulances became defunct often being parked on Kali Temple road or Bombay Chhak or sometimes near the district hospital.

The locals said that the ambulances are taken for repair every six months. After repair work, those again get parked at their respective places.

They alleged misuse of District Mineral Foundation by the district administration in name of service to people.

When the Chief District Medical Officer was contacted in this regard, he is yet to give his statement.

A senior official, however, said the district health department has nothing to do with the ownership and functioning of these ambulances as the DMF agencies are in charge of it.