Pilibhit

A 50-year-old woman in Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh, who had been declared “brain-dead” and sent home with little hope of survival, showed signs of life after the ambulance carrying her hit a pothole on a national highway.

Doctors later resumed treatment, and the woman recovered fully nearly 12 days later.

The incident took place on the Bareilly-Haridwar stretch of National Highway 74 near Hafizganj and triggered local discussions about both road conditions and what many initially described as a “miraculous” recovery.

However, doctors later said the revival was likely due to treatment for a suspected toxic insect or snake bite rather than the jolt itself.

The woman, Vinita Shukla, a senior assistant in the copy section of Pilibhit’s judicial courts, had collapsed on February 22 while doing household chores, according to her family.

Her husband Kuldeep Shukla said she had complained of high blood pressure earlier and had taken medication before suddenly losing consciousness. She was initially taken to Autonomous State Medical College, Pilibhit and later referred to a hospital in Bareilly due to her critical condition.

At a private hospital in Bareilly, she remained on ventilator support for three days. Doctors later told the family she had little chance of survival and discharged her with a referral note.

Kuldeep said that on February 24, while bringing his unconscious wife back home in an ambulance, he had already informed relatives to prepare for her last rites.

“Near Hafizganj, the ambulance suddenly hit a large pothole and the vehicle shook violently. Shortly afterwards, my wife began breathing normally again,” he said, adding that he immediately asked relatives to halt the funeral preparations.

He then rushed her to Neurocity Hospital, Pilibhit for emergency treatment.

After nearly 12 days of intensive care at the hospital, Vinita returned home on Monday.

“She is now conscious and able to speak with us,” Kuldeep said.

According to neurosurgeon Rakesh Singh of Neurocity Hospital, the woman was brought in unconscious but was still breathing faintly.

“During physical examination, we noticed a mark on her leg suggesting a bite from a venomous snake or insect,” he said, adding that her condition appeared to be linked to neurotoxin poisoning rather than high blood pressure.

Doctors administered treatment for toxin exposure, which gradually improved her condition.

Singh said earlier tests conducted in Bareilly had shown an absence of brainstem reflexes and her Glasgow Coma Scale score had dropped to three from the normal level of 15, indicating deep unconsciousness.

“Her pupils were dilated, suggesting severe neurological suppression. Further tests showed a high presence of neurotoxins in her blood and lymphatic system,” he said.

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Targeted treatment for the toxin helped her recover over the course of nearly 12 days, the doctor added, emphasising that the improvement resulted from timely medical intervention rather than a miracle.