Rural Health Crisis: Pregnant Woman Carried in a 'Doli' Near Mumbai

In a dire reminder of rural health infrastructure gaps, a pregnant woman from Shahapur, Maharashtra, was carried in a makeshift palanquin, or 'doli,' due to the lack of an access road to her village. This incident occurred just 100 kilometers from Mumbai, India's bustling financial hub.

The woman, 21-year-old Sangita Ravindra Mukane, was transported over a kilometer from Chafewadi village in a heart-wrenching journey shared widely on social media. She needed critical medical assistance but had to endure a risky wait because ambulances stalled far from her village.

Local activist Prakash Khodka criticized the inaction of the Nadgaon gram panchayat, stating that despite repeated requests, authorities have failed to build necessary infrastructure. Mukane suffered a seizure before getting to the ambulance, underscoring the urgent need for addressing these challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)