A woman suffered breathlessness inside the Coastal Road tunnel due to a heavy traffic jam, but timely help from a fellow motorist ensured she reached the hospital safely. The incident highlights concerns over ventilation and traffic management inside the newly constructed tunnel.
According to the victim’s husband, the couple was stuck for nearly half an hour inside the tunnel due to a severe traffic snarl. He mentioned that the lack of proper air circulation inside the tunnel led to a drop in his wife’s oxygen levels, triggering breathlessness and severe discomfort.
The couple, Subodh Jathar — a yoga teacher residing in Dombivli — and his wife, were travelling from Dadar to Colaba in a black-and-yellow taxi on Monday, April 7. Jathar recalled that the congestion was so intense that both he and his wife began to struggle with breathing. The situation worsened to the point that his wife was unable to breathe properly.
Fortunately, a Scorpio SUV, which was stationed next to their taxi, came to their aid. The car owner offered them a lift and immediately drove them to Bombay Hospital. Jathar further shared that the intense heat, combined with poor airflow inside the tunnel, made the situation even more unbearable. Although the air-conditioning in the taxi provided temporary relief, his wife’s condition deteriorated during the journey, with her limbs becoming stiff.
Upon reaching Bombay Hospital, doctors administered oxygen, which stabilized her condition. After two hours of observation, she was discharged.
Jathar raised serious concerns about the lack of traffic management inside the tunnel during such gridlocks. He suggested that the government should prevent additional vehicles from entering the tunnel during jams and proposed the installation of digital display screens at entry points to update commuters on traffic conditions inside.
Interestingly, the good Samaritan who helped the couple was none other than Manish Salve, Assistant Commissioner of BMC’s R South Ward. Salve, who was on his way to watch the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Wankhede Stadium, noticed the distressed couple while stuck in the same traffic jam inside the Coastal Road tunnel.
Speaking to Lokmat Times, Salve recounted that upon seeing the woman’s deteriorating condition inside the taxi, he immediately offered assistance and transported the couple to Bombay Hospital, ensuring timely medical care.