Doctors Across Maharashtra Strike After Assault on KDMC Hospital Staff in Dombivli

Mumbai, 8th July 2026: CCTV footage has surfaced from KDMC’s Shastrinagar Hospital in Dombivli, showing local leader Ramesh Mhatre, a corporator from Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, allegedly assaulting doctors and hospital staff after demanding immediate NICU admission for a newborn delivered via C-section.

According to hospital authorities, the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was full, making it impossible to admit the infant. Gynaecologists Dr Srushti Baviskar and Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe advised the family to shift the newborn to another hospital equipped to provide the required treatment.

Hospital staff said some of the family’s relatives then contacted the corporator. As the doctors were attending to other patients and could not respond to repeated phone calls, Mhatre allegedly arrived at the hospital, verbally abused the doctors and refused to accept the medical explanation regarding the unavailability of NICU beds.

The CCTV footage reportedly shows Dr Vaibhav Salunkhe being assaulted, while nurses Namita Ubale and Dravya Giri, who attempted to intervene, were pushed and manhandled.

The incident was reported to Municipal Commissioner Abhinav Goyal, following which Medical Health Officer Dr Deepa Shukla, along with the injured doctors and hospital staff, approached Vishnunagar Police Station and submitted a complaint. Doctors have also alleged that Mhatre threatened the medical staff before leaving the hospital.

The incident has triggered protests across Maharashtra, with medical staff at government hospitals suspending OPD and other routine services indefinitely while continuing emergency care in protest against the assault. Police are investigating the complaint submitted by the hospital authorities, though no formal FIR has been registered yet, and Ramesh Mhatre has not publicly responded to the allegations.