Mumbai: A woman experienced severe breathlessness inside the Coastal Road tunnel in Mumbai, exposing critical issues related to ventilation and traffic control. The incident occurred on April 7, when Subodh Jathar, a yoga teacher from Dombivli, and his wife were travelling from Dadar to Colaba in a black-and-yellow (kaali peeli) taxi.
Sudden Drop In Oxygen Levels
The couple found themselves trapped in a major traffic jam inside the tunnel for nearly 30 minutes. According to Jathar, the prolonged congestion, compounded by insufficient air circulation, led to a drop in his wife's oxygen levels. She began experiencing breathlessness and severe discomfort. Jathar said that even he felt the effects of poor ventilation and rising heat within the tunnel.
The situation escalated quickly as his wife’s condition deteriorated. Fortunately, help arrived from a fellow commuter stuck nearby, a Scorpio SUV driver, who turned out to be Manish Salve, Assistant Commissioner of the BMC’s R South Ward, reported Lokmat Times. Salve, who was en route to Wankhede Stadium for an IPL match, noticed the woman’s struggle and immediately offered his assistance.
Salve drove the couple straight to Bombay Hospital, where doctors administered oxygen to stabilise the woman’s condition. She was kept under observation for two hours and was discharged later the same day.
Serious Concerns Over Ventilation Inside Coastal Road Tunnel
Jathar expressed his gratitude for the timely help but raised serious concerns over the management of the Coastal Road tunnel. He stressed the urgent need for better ventilation systems and called on authorities to regulate vehicle entry during peak congestion. He also proposed installing digital display boards at entry points to inform motorists of traffic status inside the tunnel.
He noted that while the taxi's air-conditioning gave some relief, it wasn’t enough to combat the heat and staleness inside the jam-packed tunnel. His wife’s limbs had started to stiffen by the time they reached the hospital.
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