Onlooker’s inaction, lack of humanity and blatant self centeredness has caused a widowed mother to lose her 18 year old son, the sole breadwinner of her family. Anwar Ali Ekalaspur, 18, was on his way to work in Karnataka’s Koppal area when he was hit by a KSRTC bus.
Though he lay writhing on the ground and crowds gathered at the site, not one of the onlookers took the initiative to shift the accident victim to the hospital which was also a stone’s throw from the area. What was even more shocking was that these bystanders whipped out their smartphones and captured morbid images and videos of Anwar who begging and pleading with them to shift him to the hospital. He was severely injured and was bleeding profusely but this did not stir any sympathy in the minds of the people who feared being harassed by the police and hospital authorities.
It was one witness, Sridhar (name changed) who offered the victim water and called for the 108 ambulance. However, by the time Anwar was shifted to the hospital it was too late. Dr Suresh Dadaraddi, district surgeon at the Koppal Hospital stated that Anwar was brought to the hospital at 9.15 am in a very serious condition, with a crushed pelvis and multiple injuries. He passed away at 1.20 pm due to these injuries and haemorrhagic shock.
It is ironical that such an incident has occurred in the state of Karnataka, which is the first state in India to introduce the Good Samaritan and Medical Professionals Bill in 2016, encouraging persons to rush the accident victims to the hospital well within the golden hour. The bill has been passed by both Houses of State Legislature while it awaits assent of the Governor and President.
Viewer Discretion Advised
It is not a crime to help those in need. We urge readers to come forward and take initiative whenever they see accident victims on the road. Calling an ambulance is not your only job. If the victim is in pain, it is our duty to take him / her to a nearby hospital. You never know when you might just save a soul.
