Gujarat: Newborn, doctor among 4 killed as ambulance catches fire in Modasa

Representational Image. File Pic

In an extremely unfortunate incident in Gujarat's Modasa district, a newborn baby, a doctor and two other persons were charred to death when an ambulance caught fire. The incident happened when a newborn and 4 others were inside the ambulance during the wee hours of Tuesday, police said.

Police inspector DB Vala, while asserting about the incident, said, "The blaze erupted in the ambulance on Modasa-Dhansura road at around 1 am when the one-day-old boy, who was sick after birth, was being taken to a private hospital in Ahmedabad from a Modasa-based hospital for further treatment," as cited by news agency PTI.

He further highlighted that, "The child, his father, identified as Jignesh Mochi (38), doctor Shantilal Rentia (30), from Ahmedabad, and nurse Bhuriben Manat (23), a native of Arvalli, were killed," reported PTI.

Mochi's two relatives and the private ambulance driver also suffered burn injuries and were admitted to a nearby hospital, the official said.

Vala, while briefing more about the situation, said, "Jignesh Mochi was a native of neighbouring Mahisagar district, and his newborn child was under treatment at a private hospital in Modasa after birth. When he was being taken to another private hospital, the ambulance caught fire on its way due to some unknown reason, as per PTI.

In the CCTV footage released by police, the ambulance can be seen slowing down near a petrol pump after the driver realised about the fire on its rear side.

"While the driver and two of Mochi's relatives, who were on the front seat, escaped with injuries, the infant and his father, along with the doctor and a nurse, who were on the backside of the vehicle, were charred to death in the blaze," the inspector added.

Though the local fire brigade rushed to the spot after being alerted, the four victims could not be saved.

The injured persons have been identified as driver Ankit Thakor and Jignesh Mochi's relatives - Gaurang Mochi and Gitaben Mochi, reported PTI.

District Superintendent of Police Manoharsinh Jadeja, while talking to the media on Tuesday, said that the forensic experts have been called in to investigate the incident and find out the causes that led to the tragedy.

(With inputs from PTI)