Roadless village leaves Maharashtra mother without care, dies after childbirth

Published 18 June 2026 · health

A 25-year-old woman died after delivering a baby girl at her home in a remote village of Maharashtra's Chandrapur district, allegedly due to the absence

A 25-year-old woman died after delivering a baby girl at her home in a remote village of Maharashtra's Chandrapur district, allegedly due to the absence of a motorable road and delayed access to medical care, reigniting concerns over healthcare infrastructure in rural areas. The incident occurred in Ghodankhappi village of Jiwti tehsil, where Sangita Tulshiram Gedam, 25, went into labour on June 14. According to villagers, efforts were made to take her to a hospital, but an ambulance could not reach the settlement because there was no road connecting the village to nearby health facilities. Read Full Story Residents said some women attempted to carry the expectant mother on foot through a hilly route to seek medical treatment. However, severe labour pain forced them to return home. Sangita later delivered a healthy baby girl at her residence.

Shortly after the delivery, she reportedly suffered excessive bleeding and her condition deteriorated rapidly. A health department team reached the village and began treatment, but doctors decided that she needed to be shifted to a hospital for advanced care. As there was no direct road access, Sangita was transported through difficult terrain in a goods vehicle to Shankarpathar, where an ambulance was waiting. However, she died before reaching the hospital. Villagers have alleged that the lack of road connectivity in Ghodankhappi has been a long-standing problem. They claim that emergency services often fail to reach the village, particularly during the monsoon season, despite repeated representations to the authorities. Medical Officer Chhaya Sedmake of the Patan Primary Health Centre said the woman was around eight months pregnant and had been undergoing regular health check-ups. She added that the health team responded promptly after receiving information about her condition but could not save her despite efforts to shift her to a rural hospital.

Responding to the allegations, Chandrapur District Health Officer Dr Ashok Katare said the health department had extended all possible assistance and had previously advised the woman to temporarily relocate to a place with better transport connectivity as she approached delivery. According to Dr Katare, Ghodankhappi is divided into two hamlets, and Sangita lived in the lower section where no road exists. He said health officials had advised her to stay either at her maternal home or in Patan, where medical facilities were more accessible, but she declined. He further stated that the woman delivered prematurely at 33 weeks, whereas a normal pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks. Labour pains reportedly began during the night, but health workers were informed only the following morning. Upon receiving the information, the ASHA worker alerted doctors and an ambulance was dispatched to the nearest accessible point.