A serious accident occurred on the Disa-Palanpur National Highway last night near Rasana village. A truck carrying milk overturned when it tried to avoid stray cattle on the road. At the same time, a Swift car following the truck crashed into it, causing severe injuries to two young men inside the car. The incident has sparked outrage among drivers against the negligence of the National Highway Authority.
According to reports, an unexpected cow suddenly appeared on the highway near Rasana. The truck driver attempted to save the truck by swerving, but the truck overturned. The Swift car, which was behind the truck, collided with it, completely damaging the front of the car. The two young men from Disa suffered serious injuries. Emergency services arrived quickly and took the injured to Disa Civil Hospital for treatment. However, due to a lack of necessary medical equipment and staff at Disa Civil Hospital, the critically injured men were forced to be transferred to a private hospital by ambulance.
Following the accident, a crowd gathered at the scene, expressing anger towards the officials of the National Highway Authority. Drivers are accusing the authority of failing to ensure safety despite charging high toll fees. They point out that minor and major accidents due to wandering cattle occur daily on the national highway, yet no concrete measures have been taken by the authorities.
**Disa Civil Hospital’s Poor Condition: Financial Burden on Patients**
Amid talks of development in the Disa region, the condition of Disa Civil Hospital, the largest in the district, is extremely poor. Essential facilities such as CT scans and digital X-rays are not available for emergencies like accidents. Furthermore, doctors are reportedly unavailable at night, forcing poor and middle-class patients to seek treatment in private hospitals at a hefty cost. Patients have to rely on private institutions for essential services like CT scans, digital X-rays, and ICU care.
**Accusations of Overcharging by Private Hospitals**
There are allegations that private hospitals in Disa are overcharging patients during emergencies like accidents. When patients are admitted to the ICU, bills are presented at their discretion, and families do not receive proper invoices from the hospital. After transferring a patient to the ICU, doctors often send them out for CT scans and X-rays to places where commissions are allegedly involved. This has raised concerns among the public about the integrity of healthcare practices in the area.
This accident highlights the urgent need for better road safety measures and healthcare facilities in the Disa region. The presence of stray cattle on highways remains a significant hazard, and the community is calling for immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future. Local authorities must take responsibility for ensuring the safety of road users and improving the infrastructure of medical facilities to better serve the community. The situation requires a collaborative effort between the authorities, the public, and healthcare providers to address these pressing issues effectively.