Woman delivers on road as ambulance fails to turn up

BARIPADA: Exposing the sorry state of health sector in Odisha yet again, a pregnant woman delivered on road after 108 ambulance service failed to respond on time in the tribal-dominated district of Mayurbhanj on Sunday night. Pramila Si of Padugirisul village within Chandua police limits delivered her baby on the busy Odisha-West Bengal State Highway at Khetrapatna Chowk in full public glare as the ambulance did not turn up on time.

As per reports, Pramila and her husband Durga Dhal were returning home from Jagaddhatri fair at Bhanjpur in Baripada Town at around 8 pm on a cycle when the former developed severe labour pain. Durga told Pramila to wait at the roadside and went towards Murgabadi Chowk to call the ambulance. However, as the ambulance did not arrive, the woman delivered on the road at Khetrapatna Chowk, about seven kms from Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (MCH).

Debu Das of Suliapada area, who was a witness to the incident, said the woman was in labour pain and lying on the middle of the road. Her husband was not present at the spot as he had gone in search of an ambulance. “Though we called the 108 ambulance service, it did not reach on time. The woman later delivered on the highway,” said Anupam Sor of Khetrapatna, also an eye-witness.

The locals then arranged a private ambulance and the woman and her baby were rushed to the MCH at around 8.30 pm.Pramila said she went into labour at around 5 pm when she was in the fair. As there was heavy rush, it took some time to come out of the venue. 

Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Pranab Sankar Das said on being informed, a 108 ambulance was immediately sent to the spot. But by then, the woman and her baby had already come to the hospital by a private ambulance. He said both the mother and baby are stable and necessary treatment is being provided to them.