**Tragedy in Palghar: 16-Month-Old Boy Dies After Ambulance Gets Stuck in Traffic Jam**
A heartbreaking incident unfolded on Thursday in Thane district, where a 16-month-old boy lost his life after the ambulance transporting him to a Mumbai hospital was caught in a prolonged traffic jam on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway. According to sources close to the family, the delay proved fatal.
### The Incident
The toddler had been staying at his grandmother’s home in Pelhar, Palghar district, when he accidentally fell from a fourth-floor balcony while playing. He sustained serious abdominal injuries from the fall.
Neighbours rushed the child initially to a private hospital in Naigaon on a motorbike. Doctors there managed to stabilize him briefly but advised an urgent transfer to a specialized hospital in Mumbai for further treatment.
### Ambulance Blocked by Traffic Jam
The family arranged for an ambulance to take the boy to Mumbai; however, the vehicle became stranded in a severe traffic jam on the highway. The congestion was caused by repair work on the Thane-Ghodbunder Road, which had led to the closure of a critical stretch from 6 AM to 9 PM.
Unable to proceed, the ambulance was diverted to Sasoon Navghar hospital, located between Thane and Vasai. Unfortunately, doctors declared the toddler dead upon arrival. Hospital officials later confirmed he had passed away before admission.
### Public Outrage and Demands
This tragedy has sparked widespread anger among residents, many of whom blame civic and traffic authorities for poor planning and the absence of emergency protocols.
Citizens are now demanding:
– Immediate implementation of green corridors for ambulances.
– Stricter restrictions on heavy vehicles during peak hours.
– Accountability for lives lost due to prolonged traffic congestion.
### Ongoing Traffic Woes
Traffic snarls have paralysed commuters for several days on both the Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Nashik highways, with vehicles reportedly stuck for up to six hours at a stretch.
In a related incident on Thursday, a woman recently discharged from Bhaktivedanta Hospital had to wait over five hours on the roadside near Fountain Hotel, as her father’s car remained trapped in traffic at Vasai.
Further highlighting the severity of the problem, on July 30, 49-year-old Chhaya Kaushik Purav, a resident of Madhukar Nagar in the Saphala area, died after suffering severe injuries in a tree-fall incident. Her ambulance was caught in an extensive traffic jam on a Palghar highway, preventing timely medical attention.
### Authorities Yet to Respond
Despite these incidents, the authorities have yet to release a formal statement about the highway conditions or inform the public about when relief can be expected.
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