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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker,...

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker, mentor and philanthropist — Dr Samudra has balanced many roles with commitment. While she manages a busy medical practice, her deeper calling has always been service. For her, medicine is not merely a profession but a responsibility towards the people who depend on her guidance. Nagpur to Panvel Born and raised in Nagpur, Dr Samudra completed her medical education there before moving to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. The early years were challenging. With determination, she and her husband Girish Samudra, an entrepreneur involved in underwater pipeline projects, chose to build their life in Panvel. At a time when the town was still developing and healthcare awareness was limited, she decided to make it both her workplace and home. What began with modest resources gradually grew into a trusted medical practice built on long-standing relationships with patients. Fighting Diabetes Recognising the growing threat of diabetes, Dr Samudra dedicated her career to treating and educating patients about the disease. Over the years, she has registered nearly 30,000 patients from Panvel and nearby areas. Yet she believes treatment alone is not enough. “Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Medicines are important, but patient education is equally critical. If people understand the condition, they can manage it better and prevent complications,” she says. For more than 27 years, she has organised an Annual Patients’ Education Programme, offering diagnostic tests at concessional rates and sessions on lifestyle management. Family, Practice With her husband frequently travelling for business, much of the responsibility of raising their two children fell on Dr Samudra. Instead of expanding her practice aggressively, she kept it close to home and adjusted her OPD timings around her children’s schedules. “It was not easy,” she recalls, “but I wanted to fulfil my responsibilities as a mother while continuing to serve my patients.” Beyond Medicine Today, Dr Samudra also devotes time to social initiatives through the Bharat Vikas Parishad, where she serves as Regional Head. Her projects include  Plastic Mukta Vasundhara , which promotes reduced use of single-use plastic, and  Sainik Ho Tumchyasathi , an initiative that sends Diwali  faral  (snack hamper) to Indian soldiers posted at the borders. Last year alone, 15,000 boxes were sent to troops. Despite decades of service, she measures success not in wealth but in goodwill. “I may not have earned huge money,” she says, “but I have earned immense love and respect from my patients. That is something I will always be grateful for.”

Lifeline bleeds again

Four commuters lose lives after falling from speeding local in Thane, nine hurt

Thane/Mumbai: At least four commuters fell to their death from two speeding suburban trains and another nine were injured, some seriously, between Diva and Mumbra stations of the Central Railway in Thane, during the morning peak hours on Monday, officials said.

 

Among those killed was a Government Railway Police (GRP) official, and three other office-goers, rushing to their workplaces in Mumbai.

 

The gruesome tragedy on the first work day of the week left the 8-million plus daily commuters badly shaken amid a clamour for improving the safety aspects for the commuting crowds in jam-packed suburban trains.

 

Speaking to the media, CR’s Chief Spokesperson Swapnil D. Nila said that at least 13 commuters fell from the two running trains on that sector.

 

“This is not a train accident, it is only an incident involving 13 persons… Five were rushed to a local hospital and the rest to the CSM Hospital in Kalwa for treatment,” Nila said.

 

What happened?

The tragedy occurred around 9.30 am when the guard of the train zooming from CSMT-Kasara sent an alert at 9.50 am that six persons had fallen on the railway tracks and an ambulance was hurried to render assistance which found there were eight victims.

 

The CR CPRO said that the victims were travelling on the footboard ostensibly due to overcrowding in the morning rush hours, on the Mumbra-Diva Down/Fast line.

 

Nila added that the shoulder bags of some of the commuters from the two trains hurtling in opposite directions brushed causing them to fall on the space between the tracks of the two lines, usually 1.5-2.0 metres apart, but a tilt could occur on curves, considered one of the causes behind the disaster.

An injured passenger Tushar Bhagat of Titwala, told media-persons that as the train approached the deadly curve near Mumbai, those standing near the doors got a sudden squeeze and attempted to hold on for dear life, but in seconds, he and others fell off the train, four to their deaths.

 

Probe ordered

The railways have ordered a probe into the incident while the Maharashtra government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to the kin of each deceased and all medical expenses of the injured.

 

In a knee-jerk reaction, the railways have announced that all new suburban train rakes shall be fitted with automatic closing doors, a la Metro trains, while all the existing rakes will be retrofitted with similar doors to avoid similar incidents in future.

 

List of victims: 

The dead:

Vicky Babasaheb Mukhidal, 34, a Government Railway Police official,

Ketan Dilip Saroj, 23, Ulhasnagar

Rahul Santosh Gupta,

And, an unidentified person

 

The injured:

Shiva Gawli, 23, admitted to CSM Hospital, Kalwa, now in Jupiter Hospital, Thane, critical

Sneha Donde, (Female) 21, of Titwala, stable

Priyanka Bhatia, (Female) 26, of Kalyan, stable

Anil More, 40, taken to Jupiter Hospital, stable

Aadesh Bhoir, 26, of Kasara, stable

Tushar Bhagat, 22, of Titwala, stable

Manish Saroj, 26, of Diva, stable

Rihan Sheikh, 26, of Bhiwandi, stable

Machhindra Gotarne, 39, of Vashind, stable

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