June 24, 2025: In a stark reminder of the state of rural infrastructure just 100 kilometres from Mumbai, a pregnant woman was carried in a makeshift palanquin, locally known as a doli, due to the absence of a proper road to her village. The incident took place on Monday in Chafewadi, a remote hamlet in Shahapur taluka of Maharashtra’s Thane district.
A video showing 21-year-old Sangita Ravindra Mukane being carried in the doli for over a kilometre from her village to an ambulance waiting at Gaidand Road has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread concern and criticism.
“She went into labour and required immediate medical attention,” said local activist Prakash Khodka. “Since there is no access road to Chafewadi, ambulances are forced to wait at Gaidand Road. It’s 2025, and yet this is the reality for areas just a few hours from Mumbai.”
According to Khodka, repeated appeals to the Nadgaon gram panchayat, which governs the village, have gone unanswered. “Due to the delay in reaching medical care, Sangita suffered a seizure before arriving at the ambulance. She was immediately taken to Thane Civil Hospital. Thankfully, her condition is now stable.”
He also pointed out that had there been road access, she could have received treatment at the local primary health centre itself, potentially preventing the emergency from escalating.
The incident has once again thrown a spotlight on the inadequate health and transport infrastructure in rural pockets surrounding major urban centres. Despite continued demands from residents, no action appears to have been taken to address this life-threatening gap.
Attempts to contact officials from the Nadgaon gram panchayat and the district administration were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
