The ambulance driver who allegedly haggled, Samir Kanti Sarkar, was roughed up by angry locals and the police was called in.

An eight-month-old girl died at a government hospital in West Bengal's Barasat as ambulance drivers allegedly haggled with her father about the cost to take her to a hospital in Kolkata.Soheni Sultana had been taken to the government hospital at Barasat this morning with breathing trouble. After giving her some initial treatment, the hospital authorities said she should be moved to Kolkata's BC Roy Hospital, which specialises in pediatric treatment.The hospital authorities told the child's father, Imdadur Hasan, that there was a free ambulance service for babies less than one year old. They also gave him the necessary papers for the ambulance.But when Mr Hasan reached the ambulance stand, the drivers asked for Rs 100 for an oxygen cylinder, Rs 750 as hire charges and also some tips, the family claimed. It took more than 90 minutes for one driver to agree to go, but by then, the child was dead.The agitated family rushed to the office of the superintended of the hospital, Subrata Mondal, who refused to meet them and the police was called in. The angry locals manhandled the ambulance driver who had refused to go.Demanding that action be taken against the local ambulance drivers, Mr Hasan said, "The kind of harassment I faced... it should not happen again."The ambulance drivers claim they don't get reimbursed for carrying babies, the elderly and the pregnant women, whose travel is supposed to be paid for by the hospital."We may have asked for bakshish sometimes. The hospital is supposed to give us Rs 100 for an oxygen cylinder but never does," said Tapan Sarkar, one of the drivers.Admitting that there was a problem with ambulances, hospital superintendent Mr Mondol said the hospital ws looking into the matter. The erring driver has already been barred from the hospital premises. "This is the first time in my 10 months here that we have had such a complaint," he added.The police are investigating the parents' complaint. The Chief Medical Officer Health of North 24 Parganas district has ordered an inquiry into the incident.