Hyderabad: The Telangana high court stayed a circular issued by the state government restricting the entry of ambulances and other vehicles carrying Covid-19 patients at the state border.


Bench headed by chief justice Hima Kohli issued interim orders to this effect, after hearing a PIL petition filed by retired Indian Revenue Service officer Garimella Venkat Krishna Rao.


While announcing the 10-day lockdown in Telangana starting on Wednesday, the TRS government issued a circular stating that patients from other states would be allowed into the state, only if they have prior tie-up with the hospitals in Telangana for the purpose of Covid-19 admission.


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Meanwhile, Two Covid-19 patients have died after their ambulances were denied entry at Pullur Toll Plaza on the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border in Kurnool district on Friday morning.


The patients were being taken to Hyderabad when they were stopped by Telangana police stating they have no permission. One of the patients is from Nandyal in the Kurnool district while the other was reported to be from Kadapa. Delay in getting treatment has resulted in their deaths.


Close to 20 ambulances were stopped for hours at the toll plaza. Despite pleas from desperate family members, the Telangana cops did not allow the ambulances to enter the state.