A private ambulance on an afternoon shift at Udala Medical in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, burst into flames, and an oxygen cylinder inside the vehicle detonated, killing patient Suyash Kumar Barik from Kundabai area and leaving two others wounded.
The ambulance, a 4‑door vehicle equipped with a 20‑liter cylinder, was parked near the emergency ward when sparks ignited the oxygen, which then ruptured, sending a lethal cloud of gas into the cramped interior.
Firefighters rushed to the scene within minutes, extinguishing the blaze before it could spread to the adjacent wards. The team used high‑pressure water jets and a portable fire extinguisher rated for medical gases, preventing a secondary explosion.
Hospital staff and waiting patients were evacuated to a temporary casualty tent; the two injured were transported to the district hospital for treatment.
The incident has prompted the Odisha State Police to launch a formal probe into the ambulance’s maintenance records and the cylinder’s compliance with safety standards. The police will interview the ambulance crew, review CCTV footage, and request the manufacturer’s certification documents.
In the meantime, Udala Medical has suspended the use of all private ambulances on its premises pending a safety audit, and the state health department has announced a review of medical transport protocols nationwide.
The family of the deceased has expressed shock and demands a thorough investigation, while local residents fear that similar accidents could repeat in the congested lanes of Odisha’s hospitals.