A pregnant woman died on the way from one hospital toanother, as the ambulance carrying her ran out of fuel in Odisha's Mayurbhanjdistrict, an official said on Saturday. The 23-year-old tribal woman who was inan advanced stage of pregnancy was admitted to a government hospital inBangiriposi.However, the doctors there referred her to another hospital atBaripada on Friday night as the condition Tulasi Munda has become critical, thesources said.

"The ambulance stopped near Kuliana it ran out of fuel.We have to wait for more than an hour on the road till another vehicle could bearranged for the forward journey," said Tulasi's husband ChittranjanMunda.He said though an ASHA worker was accompanying his wife, she was alsohelpless in that situation.

"Finally, another ambulance was arranged and she wastaken to Baripada hospital. By the time we reached the hospital, my wife haddied," Chittaranjan said.Chief District Medical Officer of Mayurbhanj, PKMohapatra, admitted that the ambulance could not reach its destination becauseof insufficient fuel.

The CDMO claimed that the ambulance had enough fuel when itstarted its journey to Baripada, but it ran out of fuel due to a breakge in theoil pipe.He said the matter will be enquired by the district authorities.