“This article explores the non-medical causes of maternal deaths to understand if these deaths could have been prevented with timely care. It is based on a study of maternal deaths in two blocks of Godda district of Jharkhand over a period of one year. These deaths were concentrated among young women from poor, marginalised households. Delays at different levels owing to improper and multiple referrals by facilities, absence of easily accessible and quality emergency obstetric care, lack of transport facilities and high out-of-pocket expenditure seem to be the main non-medical factors for the high maternal mortality rate.”