Manoharpur: both 108 ambulances out of order, patients taken to hospital by auto

Both 108 ambulances posted at the Manoharpur community health centre in Jharkhand are out of order, leaving patients to reach hospital by auto-rickshaw, according to a Prabhat Khabar report dated 28 October 2026.

The report says one of the ambulances has been lying defective in Manoharpur for around four to five months. The second, which had been running somehow, recently broke down on the road near Bhalulata in Odisha while carrying a patient and had to be towed away for repair. The condition of the 104 ambulance meant for women in labour is also described as poor.

Patients who need to be referred have to hire private vehicles. The report says families pay up to Rs 3,000 to reach Rourkela and up to Rs 5,000 to reach Chaibasa, and that villagers sometimes collect money among themselves to help poorer patients. The villages of 15 panchayats in Manoharpur block and seven in Anandpur block depend on the centre, the report says.

Local residents told the newspaper the problem has persisted for two to three years. The report does not carry a response from district officials.

Why it matters for ambulance owners and drivers

• Gaps in government ambulance availability push families toward private vehicles and hired transport.
• Long-idle vehicles with no maintenance can leave drivers and crews without working vehicles.