Pregnancy-related complications accounted for nearly 46 per cent of the 777 medical emergencies attended to by Gujarat's two boat ambulances between April 2018 and September 2026, according to state health data. The figures underline how water-based emergency services have become a critical lifeline for residents of remote islands and coastal communities in the state.

How the service operates

The boat ambulance programme runs under Gujarat's 108 Emergency Response Service, with two vessels in active deployment. One is stationed at Okha in Devbhumi Dwarka district and the other at Porbandar. Together, they provide pre-hospital care and patient transport to healthcare facilities in areas where road access is either difficult or entirely unavailable.

Key numbers: Who handled what

Of the 777 total emergency interventions recorded over the eight-year period, the Okha unit handled 720 cases — approximately 92.7 per cent of all dispatches — while the Porbandar unit responded to the remaining 57 cases.

Pregnancy-related emergencies were the single largest category, accounting for 355 cases. The Okha unit handled 350 of these, with five attended to by the Porbandar vessel. Officials noted that most pregnancy cases involved residents of Beyt Dwarka, an island where road connectivity was previously unavailable, making boat transport essential for women needing obstetric care.

Severe abdominal pain was the second most common reason for dispatch, covering 105 cases — 91 at Okha and 14 at Porbandar. Non-vehicular trauma, including injuries sustained on fishing vessels, at docks, and in coastal zones, accounted for 83 cases (71 at Okha, 12 at Porbandar). Cardiac emergencies made up another 82 interventions, with 77 handled by the Okha unit and five by the Porbandar unit.

What the government said

State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya reaffirmed the government's commitment to extending healthcare to geographically isolated communities. 'Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, we are committed to providing healthcare services to every corner of the state, including at sea. Boat ambulances have been deployed to bridge healthcare gaps for island residents, coastal villages and offshore fishing crews. The fleet has delivered critical pre-hospital care and life-saving transportation across the region,' he said.

Why it matters

The data covers a span of over eight years, offering a rare long-term view of healthcare demand patterns in coastal Gujarat. The Okha unit's dominance — nearly 93 per cent of all cases — points to the acute need around Beyt Dwarka and nearby island clusters, where land-based infrastructure had long been inadequate. Notably, the programme predates the completion of a bridge connecting Beyt Dwarka to the mainland, suggesting the boat ambulances filled a structural gap at a critical juncture. The relatively low caseload at Porbandar, by contrast, may reflect better road connectivity along that stretch of coastline. Looking ahead, the state government has indicated it intends to expand emergency response coverage to further coastal and island communities.