18-Year-Old Dies in Rajgad Due to Poor Road Conditions, Family Blames Administrative Negligence

Pune:

In a tragic incident, an 18-year-old youth lost his life in Rajgad taluka after a delay in reaching the hospital. The family of the deceased, Sandesh Sambhaji Ingulkar, has expressed outrage, blaming his untimely death on the deplorable condition of the local roads.

Sambhaji Ingulkar, originally from Velhe taluka, had moved to Pune’s Katraj area for work along with his family. He had two sons. However, his little son, Sandesh Ingulkar, had asthama problems since childhood. but, due to his surgery at the age of five, he was living a healthy life like other children. But, on November 10, while working in the fields, he suddenly experienced severe breathing issues.

With no medical facilities available in their village and the sub-centre at Sonde Sarpale closed, the family decided to take Sandesh to Nasrapur for treatment. However, their journey turned into a nightmare as the roads to Nasrapur, particularly via Ambavane, were in terrible condition.

As the road via Ambavane was very bad, they had to drive slowly towards Nasrapur via Kodavadi. Meanwhile, the harvester that had come to harvest rice on the narrow bridge at Kodavadi on the Gunjawani river got stuck on that bridge, causing a delay of 20–25 minutes. Adding to the tragedy, complaints of inadequate treatment at the primary health centre in Karanjavane made the family bypass it, prolonging their journey to Nasrapur.

Heavy traffic between Baneshwar Phata and Nasrapur compounded the delays. What should have been a 15-kilometre journey took an agonising hour and a half. By the time they reached the hospital, doctors declared that Sandesh had passed away before arrival.

The young man’s death has plunged his family into grief, with his father, Sambhaji, directing his anger at the administration. “If the roads were in good condition, my son would have reached the hospital in time and survived,” he said. “It took us an hour and a half to cover just 15 kilometers. This happened because of the negligence of the administration and public representatives. How many more lives will be lost before they act? At least fix the roads now so that no one else suffers this fate,” Sambhaji Ingulkar added with anguish.