Telangana High Court on Friday, 14 May, stayed the state government's order to allow only those ambulances that have prior tie-up with hospitals to come in with patients from neighbouring states. The court also pointed out that the state government’s order was “unconstitutional”.
The stay came after reports of ailing patients being stoped at the Telangana border began to emerge.
“Telangana state cannot stop ambulances from crossing the border. As per Article 21, Right to Life is supreme for everyone.”Telangana High Court
Kurnool Superintendent of Police, however, was quoted by ANI, later, on Friday evening as saying that despite the High Court’s stay, the situation along the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border had not eased.
Previously
Citing the state government’s order, TNM had reported that hospitals in Telangana were to apply in the prescribed format to the state control room. After the receipt of the application, the control room would issue an authorisation letter that would allow COVID-19 patients into Telangana for treatment.
TNM quoted patients’ attendants who informed that after the Telangana government issued the restrictive order, ambulances started being stopped near the Pullur toll plaza from 10 pm on Thursday, 13 May. Reports of Suryapet Police stopping ambulances at Ramapuram also emerged around the same time, as per TNM.
Ambulances from Andhra Pradesh were reportedly stopped at other checkpoints as well. According to Mint, a woman said that she had been stuck at Gadwal along the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border since 4 am.
‘Situation Not Yet Eased at Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Border’
Kurnool Superintendent of Police said on Friday evening the situation along the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border had not yet eased and that ambulances were still being detained there.
Stating that two patients are on oxygen, the SP further shared that they brought oxygen cylinders from the police hospital, Kurnool and connected them as the patients were running short of oxygen supply.
(With inputs from The News Minute, ANI and Mint.)
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