A woman in Mokhada, Palghar district, lost her unborn child allegedly due to delays in receiving medical attention and the non-availability of ambulances, her family claimed on Saturday.

The incident has sparked outrage, with her husband also alleging he was assaulted by police when he demanded accountability.

Avita Kavar, a resident of Jogalwadi village, began experiencing labour pains on June 10. Despite multiple calls to the 108 ambulance service, no vehicle was made available on either June 10 or 11.

Her family then transported her to Khodala Primary Health Centre (PHC) using a private vehicle.

Initially, doctors at the PHC assured treatment, but three hours later, she was advised to shift to Mokhada Rural Hospital due to the severity of her condition.

According to her husband, Sakharam Kavar, an ambulance from the Ase sub-centre arrived two hours later, by which time the foetus had died.

Avita was subsequently referred to Nashik Civil Hospital as her condition worsened.
 

However, no ambulance was arranged, forcing Sakharam to carry the stillborn child in a bag during an 80-kilometre journey by state transport bus to their village for the last rites, sources said.

“When I questioned the delay at Khodala PHC, I was assaulted by police," Sakharam alleged.

Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh ordered an inquiry, which claimed that Sakharam was intoxicated and had to be removed from the PHC premises following a request from the medical staff due to aggressive behaviour.

A police statement released on Saturday said eyewitnesses confirmed that he was not assaulted.
 

Khodala PHC medical officer Dr Ashwini More acknowledged that there was a delay in ambulance availability on one occasion.

Dr Bhausaheb Chattar of Mokhada Rural Hospital stated that the foetus had no detectable heartbeat when examined at Khodala, and confirmed that Avita was later saved following emergency surgery at Nashik Civil Hospital.