GURUGRAM: Amid a standoff between the Haryana government and National Health Mission staff, which has crippled health services at various state-run institutions, a woman died during delivery, while another lost her baby in Faridabad last Saturday.

Nirmala, a resident of Nangla Enclave Part 2, had gone into labour around 6am. Her husband Ravinder called the helpline (108) for ambulance, but the family alleged the call didn't go through. Meanwhile, Nirmala delivered a baby boy, after which the family took her to a nearby private clinic. The doctor there advised them to take her to a bigger hospital. The family put her in a small truck and rushed to Badshah Khan General Hospital where doctors declared Nirmala dead on arrival.

In another case, a pregnant woman named Bhagwati delivered a boy in an autorickshaw in which her family was taking her to a hospital in the absence of an ambulance. The newborn died before they reached. Bhagwati, lives in Mewla Maharajpur.

Faridabad has 14 state-run ambulances, of which, around 12 are on duty at the Surajkund Mela every day.

Under the Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram scheme, a pregnant woman is supposed to ger free ambulance services to and from government hospitals for childbirth.