Pregnant woman carried in a sling in Gujarat's Chhota Udepur, exposes crumbling claims of 'Vikas'
The video that surfaced on June 20 is a repeat of what has become a tragic routine in the area: critical patients being hoisted like loads, carried across muddy stretches to reach an ambulance waiting on the main road.
Villagers reveal that even top officials, including the Collector and the Taluka Development Officer (TDO), have been stuck in the same area due to the pathetic road conditions.
Yet, nothing changed. 'Pregnant women and the critically ill are regularly carried in this dangerous way,' a local resident said. 'Sometimes, people don't survive the delay," he added.
Locals claim that despite multiple representations, the cries of these tribal communities remain unheard.
The incident recalls an earlier tragedy from October 2024, when a woman in labor from Turkheda village died after being carried in a sling due to the absence of roads.
The horrifying event led the Gujarat High Court to order the construction of roads in such regions. However, the ground reality remains unchanged, even after multiple months.
The continuing string of similar incidents indicate not only administrative apathy but also a blatant disregard for the judiciary's orders.
Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi launched a fierce attack on the BJP-led state government, saying, 'This is an incident that once again shames Gujarat due to the indifferent rulers. The government keeps blowing its trumpet of development and health services, but the reality is that even jeeps of Collectors have been trapped in these muddy patches.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Hans India
Allegations, suspensions and a govt under fire
The stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 during RCB's first IPL victory parade has spiralled into a political and administrative quagmire. Claiming 11 lives and injuring over 50, the incident has exposed glaring failures in crowd management and safety protocols. Activist T J Abraham has levelled serious allegations against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and the Karnataka government's response, marked by hasty suspensions of IPS officers and a delayed report to the Centre, raises questions about accountability and competence. Documents reveal that Bengaluru police had flagged concerns about insufficient preparation time, yet the event proceeded with gates allegedly kept closed on DyCM Shivakumar's orders to create a spectacle. This decision, coupled with last-minute event scheduling, set the stage for a deadly crush. Activist T J Abraham's complaint, filed at Cubbon Park Police Station, names 14 individuals, including Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh. Abraham accuses Shivakumar of leveraging the event for personal gain, alleging negotiations to acquire an RCB stake and planning unsafe festivities. The closed gates, he claims, were a deliberate move to amplify the crowd's fervour, directly contributing to the stampede. Rajneesh faces charges of misusing public funds for publicity, while Siddaramaiah's oversight as CM is questioned. A second complaint by activist Snehamayi Krishna echoes these sentiments, intensifying pressure on the Congress-led government. The Opposition BJP has demanded resignations and labelled the incident a result of 'utter mismanagement.' On June 5, the Karnataka government hastily suspended five top police officials, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayanand, ACP (West) Vikas Kumar, and DCP (Central Division) Shekhar. The stated reason was 'dereliction of duty'. However, this move smacks of scapegoating according to netizens. Police had warned of logistical challenges, yet the suspensions target lower-tier officials while sparing political leaders implicated in decision-making. Vikas Kumar has challenged his suspension at the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), arguing it overlooks systemic issues. In a bid to restore public trust, the Karnataka government has drafted the Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering) Bill, 2025. The proposed legislation imposes up to three years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fines on commercial organisers, with lighter penalties for non-commercial ones, for safety violations. Compensation provisions, recoverable as land revenue if unpaid, aim to hold organisers accountable.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Tejasvee appointed director of bank controlled by BJP leader
Mumbai: Former corporator and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Tejasvee Ghosalkar has been appointed as a director of the Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank (MDCCB), which is controlled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pravin Darekar. The appointment ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election has triggered speculations about her quitting the Shiv Sena (UBT) and joining the BJP. Vinod Ghosalkar with Tejasvee Ghosalkar (HT Photo) The announcement regarding Ghosalkar's appointment was made by Darekar on Friday after a meeting of the board of directors of the bank. The position had been vacant since the murder of her husband and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar on February 8 last year, allegedly by a self-styled social worker Mauris Noronha alias Maurisbhai. Tejasvee Ghosalkar last month resigned as the vibhag pramukh of Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Dahisar assembly segment, alleging non-cooperation by the party's regional chief and coordinator. The move fuelled speculation that she might leave the party and join the BJP. Her father-in-law and deputy leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) Vinod Ghosalkar subsequently met party chief Uddhav Thackeray and accused the BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena of pressuring her to leave the party. With Tejasvee's appointment now as a director of MDCCB, political circles are abuzz about the move being part of the BJP's strategy to gain control over the BMC by luring Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders into its fold. The BJP believes that Tejasvee's induction would help them win big from Dahisar in the upcoming BMC election. Tejasvee has so far not made any official announcement regarding quitting the Shiv Sena (UBT). Darekar said that the bank had taken the decision to induct Tejasvee in good faith, following the unfortunate death of Abhishek Ghosalkar. The decision was taken unanimously by the board of directors as the post was lying vacant and had to be filled, he said. Another director of the bank, Shivaji Nalawade, concurred, saying the resolution to induct Tejasvee was passed at a meeting of the board of directors on Thursday. 'Since the elected body has completed more than two and half years, it has the right to appoint a new director. We have directors from across party lines and the appointment has no political angle,' Nalawade said.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Haryana govt finally blinks, sets up panel to break HAU standoff
Ten days after peacefully protesting students of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) Hisar, were lathi-charged, the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government on Friday finally 'took cognizance' of the incident, setting up a four-member panel to hold talks with the students and resolve the standoff. The students at CCSHAU, Hisar, have been protesting since June 10 in the wake of a clash with university staff. (HT File) The panel includes education minister Mahipal Dhanda; public works minister Ranbir Gangwa; social justice and empowerment minister Krishan Kumar Bedi, and Nalwa segment MLA Randhir Panihar. The mandate of this committee is to meet the students, hear their grievances and work towards a resolution of the logjam. 'Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, taking cognizance of issues related to CCSHAU, has constituted a four-member committee to hold dialogue with the students,' a government spokesperson said. 'The CM has made it clear that the Haryana government is fully committed to safeguarding the interests of youth and students. The government stands with the youth and students at every level,' he added. The students at CCSHAU, Hisar, have been protesting since June 10 in the wake of a clash with university staff. Despite mounting outrage from academics and Opposition political parties over the use of force against the students, administrative apathy, and alleged political interference, the Haryana government had remained silent until now. The unrest began when students gathered outside vice-chancellor BR Kamboj's residence on June 10 to protest changes to the university's stipend structure and the rollback of seat reservations for Land Donation Villages (LDV). The situation escalated when university officials and security personnel allegedly unleashed a brutal lathi-charge, leaving at least 20 students injured. The cane charge was cruel so much so that some students suffered deep head wounds requiring six to 30 stitches. The state government's decision to set up a panel comes ahead of students announcing to hold a mahapanchayat on June 24 against the varsity administration. Students have been observing sit-ins demanding the arrest of two university officials and the resignation of vice-chancellor BR Kamboj in response to a lathi charge on June 10. The university had earlier formed a three-member committee to resolve the issue but the students refused to hold talks with them. They are demanding the arrest of remaining accused named in the FIR, termination of key officials, and protection from disciplinary action against those involved in the protest.
