Villagers in Gujarat used a makeshift sling to carry a pregnant woman across a flooded river to reach a hospital in June 2026 [1].
The incident highlights the critical lack of infrastructure in rural India, where monsoon flooding can completely sever access to emergency medical services. When roads become impassable, residents must rely on community improvisation to prevent medical tragedies.
The rescue took place in Kanjal village, located in the Narmada district of Gujarat [1]. An ambulance had been dispatched to assist the woman, but the vehicle became stranded because floodwater had cut off the road to the village [2]. With no other way to transport the patient, approximately 20 to 25 villagers volunteered to help [1].
The group improvised a carrying system using a sling to move the woman through the water. They carried her for about one km to reach a point where medical transport could resume [2]. The effort was necessary to ensure the woman reached a hospital safely despite the severe weather conditions.
Poor road connectivity in the Narmada district has long been a challenge for local residents. During the monsoon season, these vulnerabilities are magnified as seasonal floods frequently isolate remote settlements from essential services, leaving villagers to manage emergencies without professional equipment.
The rescue was captured in video footage that surfaced as part of the broader reporting on the monsoon-season floods in the region [2]. Local authorities have not provided a formal statement on the specific road failures that led to the ambulance being stranded.
“Villagers used a makeshift sling to carry a pregnant woman across a flooded river.”
This event underscores the 'last-mile' connectivity gap in India's rural healthcare system. While emergency services like ambulances are available, the lack of all-weather road infrastructure in districts like Narmada means that during the monsoon, these services are effectively neutralized. The reliance on community-led rescues indicates a systemic failure in disaster-resilient infrastructure.
