A critically ill patient in Udupi had to be transported to a hospital in the back of a goods carrier on Monday evening after the family allegedly waited over two hours for a 108 ambulance that never arrived. Relatives said repeated calls to the emergency helpline between 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm were met with the response that no vehicles were available, and attempts to hire a private ambulance also failed as the patient’s condition worsened rapidly.

With time running out, local resident Vishu Shetty removed goods from his pickup truck, placed a cot inside, and rushed the patient to Udupi District Hospital. Video of the makeshift ambulance has since gone viral, sparking outrage over the state of emergency medical services in the coastal district.

Residents claim the 108 service in Udupi has been plagued by chronic shortages and delays for the past year, with several deaths allegedly linked to unavailable ambulances. Despite repeated complaints to authorities, they say no meaningful action has been taken to address the crisis.

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Though the district officially has 18 ambulances under the government-run 108 fleet, locals allege only five or six are functional at any given time due to maintenance issues, staffing shortages, or vehicles being diverted elsewhere. The incident has intensified demands for immediate intervention from the Karnataka Health Department and district administration.

The distressing episode highlights persistent gaps in rural and semi-urban emergency healthcare infrastructure, even as the state government promotes initiatives like Arogya Karnataka. Authorities have yet to issue an official response to Monday’s incident.

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