Uttar Pradesh patient regains consciousness after ambulance hits pothole on highway
March 11, 2026: A dramatic medical incident in Uttar Pradesh has stunned doctors and family members after a woman who had reportedly been declared brain-dead regained consciousness when an ambulance carrying her body hit a pothole on the Bareilly–Haridwar NH-74. The woman, identified as Vineeta Shukla, a 50-year-old resident of Pilibhit, had collapsed at her home while performing household chores and was rushed to a hospital in Bareilly. Doctors there said she showed no brainstem reflexes, had dilated pupils and recorded a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3, indicating severe neurological impairment.
After being told there was no realistic chance of survival, her family began preparations for her last rites and started transporting her body back to Pilibhit in an ambulance on February 24. During the journey, the vehicle hit a pothole on a road in Pilibhit, causing a sudden jolt. Moments later, family members noticed signs of life and rushed her to a hospital, where doctors immediately began emergency treatment.
Further medical tests revealed significant levels of neurotoxins in Vineeta’s bloodstream and lymphatic system. She was placed under intensive care for nearly two weeks before her condition gradually stabilised. According to neurosurgeon Rakesh Singh from Neurocity Hospital, earlier records indicated she had met clinical criteria for brain death, making her recovery highly unusual. Vineeta, who works as a senior assistant in the judicial courts in Pilibhit, has now returned home and is able to speak and interact with her family.