Palghar Shocker: Family Forced To Carry Stillborn in Plastic Bag Due to Ambulance Delay in Maharashtra’s Mokhada

Mumbai, June 15: In a deeply distressing incident, a tribal family was forced to carry the body of their stillborn child in a plastic bag and travel over 70 kilometres, after being denied timely access to ambulance services in Mokhada taluka in Maharashtra’s Palghar district.

According to the Times of India report, the ordeal began around 3 AM when Avita Sakharam Kawar, a pregnant woman, began experiencing labour pains. Despite repeated calls to the 108 emergency helpline, no ambulance arrived for several hours. The family eventually arranged a private vehicle and took her to the Khodala Primary Health Centre. However, due to inadequate facilities, she was referred to a hospital in Nashik. Tragically, the baby died in the womb before reaching the hospital.

With no ambulance provided even for the return journey, the family had no choice but to carry the deceased infant in a plastic bag—a gut-wrenching episode that highlights the dire state of healthcare infrastructure in the Jawhar-Mokhada tribal belt.

Former NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Sunil Bhusara condemned the incident, alleging that delays in ambulance services are a recurring issue despite repeated complaints to the authorities.

Meanwhile, the Palghar district health department acknowledged that the pregnancy was being monitored and claimed they were aware of the foetal demise, but denied any knowledge of the family being forced to transport the deceased child without proper support.

(The above story first appeared on Today News 24 on Jun 15, 2025 07:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website todaynews24.top).