A critically ill patient died a day after the ambulance conveying him to the hospital was stopped by police to allow the convoy of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to pass through Silchar, India.
The patient, identified as 42-year-old Rasaraj Chakraborty from Sribhumi district, died at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday morning, October 1, 2026 after being taken there for treatment.
According to India Today, the ambulance carrying Chakraborty was stopped at the Ramnagar ISBT point in Silchar on Wednesday, September 30 as police cleared the road for Sarma’s convoy.
Chakraborty had been brought from Sribhumi to Silchar for advanced treatment after his condition became critical due to a liver-related ailment.
Footage showing the ambulance waiting while the Chief Minister’s convoy passed through the area later circulated on social media, drawing public criticism.
The Times of India reported that four police personnel on duty during the incident were subsequently suspended after they stopped the ambulance to make way for Sarma’s convoy.
The Chief Minister later apologised to the patient and his family, describing the incident as unacceptable and saying that no Chief Minister’s passage should take precedence over a person requiring urgent medical care.
Emergency medical care must take precedence over VIP movement, Sarma said. Under no circumstances should the movement of ambulances or other emergency vehicles be impeded on account of VIP convoy arrangements.
While condoling Chakraborty’s death a day later, the CM said the unfortunate culmination of his disease and the ambulance being stopped on the way to hospital were unconnected.
