Pune: City has witnessed a concerning rise in child mortality over the past two years, with 1,309 children under the age of five reported dead, according to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Data released by the PMC’s City Family Welfare Bureau revealed that 517 deaths occurred between April 2024 and February 2025, while the previous year, from April 2023 to March 2024, recorded an even higher toll of 792.
This marks a significant jump compared to earlier years — 194 deaths were reported in 2022–2023 and 370 in 2021–2022. PMC officials have attributed the increase partly to improved and more comprehensive data collection methods.
Health authorities highlight that poor maternal healthcare before and after childbirth, malnutrition, infectious diseases, premature births, birth asphyxia, and delayed medical intervention are leading causes of these deaths. However, they stress that many of these fatalities are preventable through timely interventions such as skilled birth assistance, quality postnatal care, exclusive breastfeeding, proper nutrition, routine immunisations, and prompt treatment of common childhood illnesses.
On a positive note, Maharashtra has shown progress on the broader child health front. The child mortality rate in the state has declined to 16 per 1,000 live births, while neonatal mortality has reduced to 11 per 1,000 — meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2030 target.
According to doctors, Pune is home to several tertiary care hospitals like Sassoon General Hospital, KEM Hospital, Ruby Hall Clinic, Jehangir Hospital, and Bharati Hospital. These facilities attract patients from across Maharashtra, often with serious or complicated conditions. As a result, deaths at these hospitals — including many critical pediatric cases — are recorded under PMC data, potentially contributing to the high figures.
