In a message posted on social media platform X on Friday, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav addressed allegations of delays in emergency medical services following a tragic road traffic accident in Ranastalam Mandal, Srikakulam District. The incident, which occurred on December 31, 2025, resulted in the death of an unidentified individual near Surya Public School along the highway. 

The minister’s statement refuted claims by opposition parties and certain media outlets that the 108 ambulance service failed to respond promptly, labeling such reports as politically motivated misinformation. The minister mentioned that according to official logs from the 108 emergency call center, the distress call was received at 8:05 AM on the day of the accident. 

The ambulance stationed at the Ranastalam Mandal Panchayat Development Office, was assigned to the scene just two minutes later at 8:07 AM. It arrived at the location by 8:14 AM, a mere seven minutes after assignment. However, upon arrival, the emergency response team found the victim had already succumbed to injuries. The body was handed over to local police, and the ambulance returned to base at 8:29 AM.

The minister highlighted that the swift arrival contradicted narratives suggesting negligence, urging the public to rely on factual timelines rather than sensationalized accounts. He accused the opposition YSRCP of fabricating stories to exploit the tragedy for political gain. The minister claimed that around 300 ambulances had been left in disrepair across hospitals and roads during the YSRCP's four-year tenure. Under the current government, efforts have been made within the past year and a half to modernize the 108 system, he mentioned in his post.