A Pune ambulance reached Tarachand Hospital in four minutes after a 50-year-old woman fell unconscious during the Ganesh immersion procession near Belbag Chowk on September 25, with doctors beginning treatment while the vehicle moved through the crowded central city area.
The ambulance of the Pune Police Vighnaharta Nyas was stationed near Belbag Chowk for medical emergencies during the procession. The woman, who had come to watch the immersion procession, reportedly felt dizzy and collapsed. People nearby, assisted by bouncers, helped place her inside the ambulance.
She collapsed again after being put into the vehicle, according to the report by Loksatta – Pune. Doctors accompanying the ambulance immediately began treatment and directed the driver towards Tarachand Hospital. The route from Belbag Chowk to the hospital is about two kilometres, but temporary mandaps, large crowds and traffic congestion made the journey difficult.
The ambulance team managed to clear a path through the procession and reached the hospital in the fourth minute. The woman regained consciousness after some time. Doctors said her blood sugar level was slightly low and that she was given oral rehydration solution and intravenous treatment.
Dr Shivam Sarode said the woman’s condition was stable after treatment. Doctors initially considered the possibility of a mild cardiac episode, but examinations did not show such a condition. An ECG and further tests were conducted at the hospital.
Postgraduate doctors from Tarachand Hospital — Dr Shivam Sarode, Dr Yash More and Dr Rajesh Kshirsagar — had been assigned to provide medical services near Belbag Chowk during the immersion procession. Their presence meant that treatment could begin before the patient reached the hospital, while the ambulance provided a direct link between the crowded event zone and emergency care.
The incident highlights the operational challenge of providing emergency access during major public gatherings in Pune’s central areas. In such settings, the distance to a hospital alone does not determine response time; the availability of stationed medical teams, a clear movement route and a driver able to navigate dense crowds also affect how quickly a patient receives care.
According to the hospital information cited in the report, the woman’s condition remained stable after the initial treatment and medical examinations at Tarachand Hospital.
