Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Thane, Jun 7: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday night came to the rescue of a woman in urgent need of a kidney transplant after she missed her scheduled flight from Jalgaon to Mumbai, ensuring she reached the state capital in time for her surgery.

The incident unfolded at Jalgaon airport, where 34-year-old Sheetal Borde, accompanied by her husband, was set to board a commercial flight to Mumbai for a crucial transplant operation. However, by the time she arrived, the flight had already taken off, and the delay threatened her chance of receiving the life-saving procedure.

According to a release issued by Shinde’s office on Saturday, the deputy chief minister happened to be at Jalgaon airport, returning to Mumbai from the Sant Muktabai Palkhi departure ceremony in Muktainagar. A slight delay in his own chartered flight, caused by a pilot’s health issue, fortuitously aligned with Borde’s predicament.

When local activists learned of Borde’s urgent need, they immediately contacted state minister Girish Mahajan, who relayed the request to Shinde. Without hesitation, Shinde invited Borde and her husband to join him on his chartered plane to Mumbai.

During the flight, Shinde personally interacted with Borde, inquiring about her medical condition and offering reassurance, the release said. Upon landing in Mumbai, Shinde arranged for a special ambulance and personally oversaw her admission to the hospital.

An official from the deputy CM’s office later confirmed that while Borde reached Mumbai safely, her transplant surgery could not be carried out because the kidney did not match the donor.

Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, who was also at the airport, explained the situation to reporters: “The pilot was unwell and there were some technical issues, but after consulting with the company, the flight eventually took off. It was a minor issue.”

Gulabrao Patil, Jalgaon’s guardian minister and a member of Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, praised Shinde’s intervention. “Eknath Shinde has once again proven his commitment to public service,” Patil said. “His timely action saved a patient’s life—or at least gave her a fighting chance—and demonstrated the values of empathy and leadership.”

Patil added that the delay in Shinde’s flight turned out to be a blessing in disguise. “The patient was supposed to reach Mumbai before 1 am. Fortunately, she did,” he said.

The “Support to Poor Prisoners” scheme aims to help the underprivileged receive justice, but on this night, it was Shinde’s spontaneous act that made the headlines—reminding citizens that sometimes, a small delay can be a lifeline.