Mumbai: Man dies after being stuck in Marol Naka traffic jam

The distraught brother of 48-year-old Mohammad Khan, an Andheri resident pleaded with the police to ease severe traffic congestion at Marol Naka after his brother could not reach the hospital in time to receive prompt medical attention because of traffic and died on the way. Khan spent a total of 45 minutes in traffic while shuttling between hospitals.

Aslam Khan, his brother, said it took him over 15 minutes in an auto to get 48-year-old Mohammad Akram Khan, to Mukund Hospital in Andheri East on August 25. They would have reached the hospital in five minutes if the road was clearer. Mohammad, a salon owner, could have been saved had they reached sooner, doctors told the distraught kin.

Mohammad, experienced severe chest pain while being stuck for 45 minutes in traffic congestion. He was first taken to Medicare from his residence in Chimatpada near Marol Naka. The auto ride to Medicare lasted for 25 to 30 minutes. At Medicare, experts concluded that his condition was critical and advised the family to rush him to another hospital. Medicare and Mukund Hospital are about one kilometre apart.

50-year-old Aslam, following the incident, said he didn’t want anyone to go through what his family had. “I have submitted a letter to the Sahar police, urging them to take appropriate measures to tackle the traffic situation at Marol Naka,” he said on Monday. “Passing through the junction is a nightmare. Apart from regular traffic, metro work and long lines of vehicles waiting to get CNG refilled at a nearby pump have made matters worse.”

Intervention of local activist and Shiv Sena leader Intekhaab Farooqui has also been sought. “Every life is precious. No one should suffer the way we did to get to a hospital,” Aslam said. The exact cause of Mohammad’s death is still unknown. The 48-year-old fell ill on the morning of August 25. He started complaining of chest pain a few hours later. Aslam and Ajmal, another sibling, immediately decided to take him to Medicare, which is just 5 minutes away from their home.

“Had we walked to Medicare, it would have taken us 10 minutes. But Mohammad was in a bad shape, so we took an auto around 10 pm,” Aslam said. “We got stuck in a huge traffic jam at Marol Naka. I requested some local residents to help us and also urged motorists to give us some space to move. But it was chock-a-block.” They finally reached Medicare, where doctors suggested that they pursue treatment at another nearby facility, according to Aslam. “We again encountered traffic on the way to Mukund Hospital. It took us 15 to 20 minutes to get there. My brother was declared dead there. Doctors said he could have been saved had he been brought there 15 minutes sooner,” he said. “My brother spent 45 minutes on the road when he should have been in a hospital.”

Dr Pramod Gupta of Mukund Hospital said Mohammad was brought dead to the facility and added, “I am not aware of the cause.”

Originally from Uttar Pradesh, Mohammad settled in Mumbai 25 years ago. His wife and four children continued to live in their native place. They arrived in Mumbai for the final rites on August 26.

Intekhab Farooquie said he would take up the issue with authorities concerned. “Traffic jams have become a matter of routine at the junction that leads to Andheri-Kurla Road, airport, Aarey and MIDC. This tragic incident should be a wake-up call for authorities,” he said.

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