2 more die as K'taka police refuse to open check-post in Talapady

Kasaragod: Two more critically ill patients here have died after Karnataka police allegedly refused to allow ambulances carrying them to cross over to Mangaluru from Thalapady for urgent medical attention.

The latest victims at the check post on the Kasaragod- Mangalore National Highway were a 49-year-old man and a 60 – year old woman, police said.

The people of Kasaragod are largely dependent on the medical facilities in Mangaluru for critical illness care.

On Thursday last a 65-year old from Manjeshwaram, who had an acute bronchial attack, died en route to Kanhangad hospital after being denied entry to cross over to Karnataka, while an aged woman died on Sunday after she was not allowed to consult her doctor in the neighbouring state.

A woman from Bihar delivered inside an ambulance recently as the police refused to open the barricade even after a repeated appeal by the driver.

The district authorities has appealed to the Government to intervene in the matter and influence Karnataka as to lift a ban in crossing over for ambulances carrying critical patients.

The Kasaragod MP, Rajmohan Unnithan has said he would move the Supreme court against this.