After days of
barring a large number of ambulances from neighbouring states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, from entering Telangana, the state's authorities today began to allow them to bring in Covid-19 patients for treatment.
The entry restrictions on the emergency vehicles were lifted after the state's high court intervened in the matter and directed the TRS regime to immediately start allowing ambulances to enter the state.
This rollback of orders comes after two Covid-19 patients, from Kadapa and Nandyal respectively,
lost their lives after the ambulances carrying them were stopped for hours at the state border.
The police personnel, who were deployed at Telangana's borders, caused much panic and distress over the last few days when they stopped ambulances carrying critically ill Covid-19 patients from other states. This even led to widespread protests at the borders. The AP government was also displeased with the order.
The court's orders
quashing the May 11 government circular ordering the restrictions have brought much relief to many patients and their families.
(Yesterday, a bench, comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy, pointed out that the government order pertaining to ambulance entry restrictions, which was issued by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, flagrantly violated provisions of both the Epidemics Act and the Disaster Management Act.
Though the court had
questioned the government on the restrictions earlier as well, the matter came up again after a retired IRS official, Venkata Krishna Rao, filed a petition challenging the government's decision.)