Pregnant tribal woman dies on makeshift stretcher in Gujarat, Sparking outcry over road access
Chhota Udepur: In a heartbreaking incident on Tuesday, a pregnant woman from the remote tribal village of Turkheda in Gujarat’s Chhota Udepur district died after giving birth while being carried on a cloth stretcher to reach medical help. Kavita Bhil, who was in labor, died while giving birth to a girl, highlighting the urgent need for road connectivity in the area as the locals battled to get her to a medical institution.
At around 5 a.m., Kavita began experiencing labor contractions. Her husband, Kishan Bhil, along with neighbors from the village of Baskariya Faliya, immediately sprang into action, placing her on a cloth stretcher to carry her over five kilometers of rocky terrain to a pick-up point where an ambulance could arrive. However, only a kilometer into the journey, Kavita went into labor and gave birth. Tragically, she did not survive the delivery. Her body was carried back to the village on the same makeshift stretcher for the final rites. Kishan, a farmer, is now left to care for their newborn daughter and two other children under the age of five. A relative of the family revealed that the newborn is also in critical condition.
The incident has sparked anger and mourning in the village, which lies on the banks of the Narmada River. Villagers say the lack of proper road access has been an ongoing issue, with multiple appeals to the government going unanswered. Jamsinh Rathwa, a relative of Kishan, expressed the community’s frustration with the government’s inaction over the lack of infrastructure. "For years, we have been pleading for a road to access basic health services, but nothing has changed. We are forgotten. If the road had been built, Kavita would still be with us," he lamented.
This tragic event is not an isolated case, as villagers claim that several women have faced similar fates in recent years due to the lack of proper roads. Nagin Rathwa, a local resident, explained that a tender to construct a seven-kilometer road had been issued five years ago, but only three kilometers were completed. He added that, in the absence of the road, villagers are forced to carry patients on cloth stretchers, making it too late during emergencies.
BJP MP Jashu Rathwa acknowledged the tragedy but cited the difficult terrain as a reason for the delay in road construction. “It’s a tragic incident, and we are deeply pained. However, in such remote areas, walking a few kilometers is common. The BJP government is committed to building roads in every corner, but the terrain in this region is challenging. The tender for the road has been issued and will be completed soon,” he said.
SD Goklani, the In-charge District Development Officer of Chhota Udepur, confirmed that a proposal to build the remaining four kilometers of the road has been received, with an estimated cost of ₹11 crore. Goklani mentioned that they had been informed about the tragic death of the woman and that a road proposal was already in place, with construction expected to commence soon.
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Chandrashekhar Swamiji apologises for remark on denying voting rights to Muslims
"If my statement has upset our Muslim brothers, I deeply regret it."
Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."
In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.
The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."
The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
