Woman delivers baby under tree as ambulance service fails in Odisha’s Rayagada

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rayagada, Feb 10:

In another instance of failure of ambulance service in tribal dominated areas of Odisha, a woman delivered a baby boy under mango tree as the ambulance service failed in Rayagada district.

The shameful incident occurred at Saja village of Skikarpai panchayat under Kalayansinghpur block in the district last night.

Lakshmi Kulasika, wife of Ramesh Kulasika, delivered a baby boy under mango tree waiting for the ambulance service. Later, the woman and the infant were brought to Sikarpai hospital in an auto.

According to reports, Ramesh had called up for 102 and 108 ambulance service to admit his pregnant wife to a hospital following labour pain last night. He was asked to bring the patient in auto as ambulance was not available. After his wife’s condition deteriorated at 3 am, the family wanted to admit her to the hospital. The patient along with her husband walked for around three hours to reach the hospital. Being unable to walk more distance, his wife delivered a baby under a mango tree at Ghadang village.

“As ambulance did not come in time, we walked for three hours. My wife was not able to move further and delivered the child under a mango tree. The ASHA worker also came after 10-20 minute of the delivery”, Ramesh said.

The government is launching several healthcare schemes and programmes for the welfare of people but the fact can be studied to review such incidents in the state.

Earlier, similar incident had occurred at Nuasahi under Kalayansinghpur block on March 14 last year where the pregnant woman delivered a baby on the road. Another incident was reported from the same place on Sept 19 last year when mother and her newborn child died due to delay in ambulance service.

Similarly, a pregnant woman died at Saitapur village under Baisinga police station in Mayurbhanj district on January 13 as the 108 ambulance reached the place late.