Pune: Viral Video of Homeless Man Falling Off Ambulance Helps Reunite Him with Family, Two Staffers Suspended
Pimpri Chinchwad, 13th October 2026: A viral video showing a 50-year-old homeless man falling off a moving ambulance on a stretcher has helped reunite him with his family, who had been searching for him for nearly two weeks.
The man’s son recognised him in the video circulating on social media and approached Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH). He was directed to Sassoon General Hospital, where his father is undergoing treatment.
YCMH medical superintendent Abhay Dadewar said the ambulance driver and ward boy had been suspended pending an internal inquiry.
The incident occurred on Sunday, shortly after the ambulance left YCMH for Sassoon General Hospital. The patient and stretcher fell out of the moving vehicle, prompting bystanders to rush to his aid. The video triggered widespread outrage over the apparent negligence.
According to hospital officials, the stretcher and rear door may not have been secured properly. The ward boy, who was supposed to accompany the patient in the rear compartment, was reportedly sitting in the front with the driver and a police constable.
Dadewar said the two employees claimed they had secured the stretcher and blamed a possible equipment malfunction. YCMH has warned the private contractor employing them and directed staff to strictly follow safety protocols, including checking stretcher locks and rear-door latches.
Police had brought the man to YCMH after finding him in critical condition near Dehu Road with maggot-infested wounds. As the hospital did not have a septic operation theatre required for his treatment, he was referred to Sassoon General Hospital. A police personnel accompanied him as per the procedure for such cases involving homeless patients.
