Palghar Tragedy: Delay in Medical Aid Allegedly Leads to Loss of Unborn Child in Mokhada

 Palghar, June 15 — A pregnant woman in Mokhada, located in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, tragically lost her unborn child allegedly due to delays in emergency medical assistance and ambulance unavailability, her family alleged on Saturday. The incident has drawn public outcry and prompted a formal inquiry by authorities.

The woman, Avita Kavar, a resident of Jogalwadi village, reportedly began experiencing labour pains on June 10. Despite repeated calls to the state-run 108 ambulance service, no vehicle was dispatched on either June 10 or 11, according to her family.

Unable to secure official transportation, the family took Avita to the Khodala Primary Health Centre (PHC) using a private vehicle. While doctors initially began treatment, they advised her transfer to Mokhada Rural Hospital after three hours, citing the critical nature of her condition.

Her husband, Sakharam Kavar, claimed that an ambulance from the Ase sub-centre only arrived two hours later—by which time the foetus was declared dead. As her condition continued to deteriorate, Avita was referred to Nashik Civil Hospital. However, no ambulance was arranged for this transfer either.

According to sources, Sakharam was forced to travel over 80 kilometres back to their village by state transport bus, carrying the stillborn child in a bag for the final rites.

“When I asked about the delay at Khodala PHC, I was beaten by the police,” Sakharam alleged. The incident led to further controversy as videos and eyewitness accounts began circulating locally.

In response, Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh ordered a departmental inquiry. The police, in an official statement, refuted the assault allegations, stating that Sakharam was intoxicated and had been removed from the PHC premises following requests from the medical staff due to disruptive behavior. Eyewitnesses reportedly corroborated this account.

Khodala PHC’s medical officer, Dr. Ashwini More, acknowledged that there was a delay in ambulance availability during one of the emergency calls. Dr. Bhausaheb Chattar of Mokhada Rural Hospital confirmed that the foetus had no detectable heartbeat upon arrival at Khodala PHC and stated that the mother’s life was saved following emergency surgery at Nashik Civil Hospital.

The incident has once again raised serious concerns over emergency healthcare infrastructure in rural Maharashtra, especially the accessibility and timeliness of ambulance services in remote regions.