Traffic gridlock delays critical care for 49-year-old, highlighting poor road conditions and lack of emergency facilities.
A 49-year-old woman from Maharashtra’s Palghar district died inside an ambulance after being stuck for hours in a massive traffic jam on National Highway 48, exposing critical gaps in healthcare access and road management.
The Incident
On July 31, Chhaya Purav was severely injured when a tree branch fell on her near her home in Madhukar Nagar, Palghar. She suffered injuries to her ribs, shoulders, and head.
Since Palghar lacks a trauma centre, she was referred to Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, about 100 km away. The journey, which normally takes around 2.5 hours, began at 3:00 pm after she was given anaesthesia.
Ambulance Stuck for Hours
Within minutes of departure, the ambulance was caught in a massive traffic jam on NH-48. By 6:00 pm—three hours later—only half the distance had been covered. As the anaesthesia wore off, Ms Purav’s pain became unbearable.
Her husband, Kaushik, described how she screamed in agony as potholes on the road worsened her suffering. Vehicles driving on the wrong side made the jam even worse, preventing any quick movement.
Desperate Detour, But Too Late
Around 7:00 pm, the ambulance diverted to Orbit Hospital in Mira Road, about 30 km from their intended destination, in hopes of urgent treatment. However, doctors declared her dead on arrival.
According to her husband, she could have been saved if they had reached a hospital just 30 minutes earlier.
Key Issues Highlighted
- No trauma centre in Palghar forces critical patients to travel long distances.
- Severe traffic congestion on NH-48 delays emergency response times.
- Poor road conditions and potholes worsen patient distress during transit.
- Lack of traffic discipline, including wrong-side driving, increases delays.
Call for Urgent Action
The tragedy has sparked demands for:
- Establishing trauma centres in Palghar district.
- Better traffic management on NH-48.
- Road repairs and dedicated emergency lanes for ambulances
Her tragic death has sparked renewed calls for better emergency infrastructure, faster medical response, and urgent action to fix NH-48’s chronic traffic woes.
