"Agony in the Traffic Gridlock": Fatality of Maharashtra Woman in Ambulance Mired in NH 48 Congestion
A recent incident involving Chhaya Purav, a 49-year-old woman from Maharashtra's Palghar district, has brought to light the urgent need for improved emergency services on National Highway 48 (NH-48). On July 31, Chhaya Purav was critically injured in Palghar after a tree branch fell on her near Madhukar Nagar.
Chhaya was immediately referred to Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai due to the lack of a trauma center in Palghar. Her husband, Kaushik, recounts that they began their journey towards Mumbai around 3 pm, with Chhaya administered anesthesia to manage her pain. However, the ambulance was caught in a massive traffic jam on NH-48, and the poor road conditions with potholes only added to Chhaya's suffering.
After more than three hours, the ambulance had only covered half the distance to Hinduja Hospital. By the time they arrived at Orbit Hospital on Mira Road, about 30 km away from their destination, Chhaya had tragically passed away. Doctors at Orbit Hospital confirmed her death.
The delay in reaching the hospital has raised concerns about the traffic-related delays on NH-48 for emergency ambulances transporting critical patients from Palghar to Mumbai hospitals. These delays can be fatal, primarily due to heavy traffic congestion and poor road quality, combined with inadequate local healthcare facilities in Palghar.
Local politicians have called for compensation for families affected by such delays and demanded technical audits and road quality improvements. The incident has also highlighted the inadequate health infrastructure in Palghar, a problem that needs immediate attention.
Chhaya's husband, Kaushik, expresses his regret, stating that they tried their best to save Chhaya but the traffic jam foiled all their attempts. The journey that was supposed to take around 2.5 hours took over three times longer, and the consequences were devastating.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the urgent need for improved emergency services on NH-48 and the importance of adequate healthcare facilities in Palghar. The hope is that Chhaya's death will not be in vain and will lead to significant improvements in the region's healthcare and transportation infrastructure.
- The unfortunate medical-conditions Chhaya Purav experienced due to the accident with a tree branch on NH-48 could have potentially been managed better, given adequate health-and-wellness facilities were present in her vicinity, as delays in reaching the hospital worsened her general-news story.
- The fatal accidents happening on NH-48 and the inadequate health infrastructure in Palghar have drawn attention to the need for advanced medical-conditions management and upgraded general-news coverage regarding health-and-wellness, including road safety measures and emergency services, improving the overall quality of life in the region.
