Bilaspur: The District Consumer Commission has issued a significant ruling on the alleged negligence of the air ambulance service in Bilaspur. The forum has ordered the company to refund ₹7.50 lakh for failing to transport a cancer patient to Delhi on time and for serious service deficiencies.

Kritika Agarwal, a resident of Nutan Chowk, booked an air ambulance on July 12, 2025, to transport her maternal uncle, the late Basant Charan Agarwal, from Bilaspur to Delhi for treatment. An advance of Rs 7.50 lakh was paid to the company for this purpose.

It is alleged that on the first day, an ambulance was sent without the necessary medical team and equipment, and later, the flight was canceled citing bad weather in Delhi. The next day, preparations were made to transport the patient with only a compounder, but the patient died en route.

The matter did not end there. The family alleges that after the death, the company refused to transport the body to Delhi and refused to return the advance payment.

During the hearing, a report from the Airports Authority of India revealed that flight operations at Delhi Airport were normal on the day the bad weather was cited. The Consumer Commission subsequently rejected the company's arguments and held it guilty of deficiency in service and negligence.

The Commission has ordered to return Rs 7.50 lakh within 45 days, pay 9 per cent annual interest on it, Rs 25,000 for mental agony and additional Rs 5,000 for litigation expenses.