In Gujarat's Modasa town, a late-night medical emergency escalated into a horrific disaster when an ambulance carrying a critically ill infant unexpectedly caught fire, resulting in the immediate deaths of four people. The occurrence has caused shock and grief and raised fresh concerns about ambulance safety and emergency care standards in the region. 

According to authorities, a newborn delivered at a health institution in Modasa on Monday experienced a dramatic decline in his condition at about midnight. With no time to spare, the baby's father, Jignesh Mochi, rushed him to a private hospital in Dhansura via ambulance. They were accompanied by Dr. Shantilal Rentia, Nurse Bhuriben Manat, and two family members. 

However, after one a.m., the emergency vehicle caught fire in the middle. According to media sources, Police Inspector D. B. Vala confirmed that detectives are looking into the cause of the incident. CCTV footage shows the ambulance coming to a halt near a gas station shortly after the fire began, giving the driver and two passengers in the front seat barely enough time to flee. They're currently fighting for their lives in the hospital. 

However, those sat in the back—Jignesh, his newborn baby, the attending doctor, and the nurse—were locked inside and perished instantly in the fire. The tragic loss of four lives, including a struggling newborn, has cast a veil of sadness over Modasa. 

According to District Police Superintendent Manohar Singh Jadeja, forensic professionals have been summoned in to investigate what caused the fire. "We've asked forensic experts to help with the investigation," he confirmed, adding that the administration will look into whether the ambulance met safety standards. 

The event has raised public concerns about the safety of emergency medical transportation in India. Recently, several events involving poorly maintained ambulances, oxygen cylinder leaks, and electrical failures have highlighted systemic oversight and regulation inadequacies. For families already dealing with medical issues, such delays can be deadly. 

As Modasa mourns the deaths of a newborn, a father, and two healthcare professionals, neighbours are demanding accountability and immediate improvements to emergency response protocols to prevent similar horrors from happening again.