Mayurbhanj (Odisha) [India], August 23 (ANI): A pregnant woman in labour had to be carried for nearly seven kilometres on an ambulance stretcher through rivers and streams after emergency responders found that there was no motorable road connecting her remote village to the main road, officials said.
The incident took place in Anlakanta village under Dudhiani panchayat of Karanjia block, where Sumitra Shundhi, who was experiencing labour pains, needed to be taken to hospital for delivery care.
The 108 ambulance team reached the area but was unable to take the vehicle to the woman’s location due to the absence of road connectivity. With no other means of transporting her, the ambulance staff decided to carry her on the stretcher on foot.
The team comprising ambulance driver Gopal Chandra Nayak, attendant Ankit Mohanta and Munuram Soren carried the woman for around seven kilometres, negotiating difficult terrain and crossing rivers and streams along the way.
After reaching a point accessible by road, the woman was placed in the ambulance and taken to Karanjia Hospital, where she was admitted for further medical care.
The incident has highlighted the difficulties faced by residents of remote parts of Mayurbhanj in accessing emergency healthcare, particularly pregnant women who require timely transportation to medical facilities.
Speaking to ANI, Mayurbhanj ADM Netrananda Mallick said the administration had received information about the incident and would first ascertain which department is responsible for the road before taking further action.
“I got this information now. In this context, we will discuss with the Medical Officer and the BDO or the Rural Development Department. First, we have to know which department the road belongs to,” Mallick said.
He said the administration would take up the matter with the District Collector and examine the connectivity situation in the area.
“The government is giving top priority to the basic needs of the people, particularly health, education, road connectivity and water facilities,” the ADM said.
Mallick added that the District Collector regularly reviews the functioning of different line departments to improve facilities in areas that remain disconnected from the district headquarters.
He said the matter would be investigated and, after identifying the department responsible, necessary instructions would be issued to improve road connectivity and other basic facilities in the locality.
According to local accounts, the absence of motorable roads can become particularly critical during medical emergencies, when patients need to be transported quickly to hospitals.
The ambulance crew’s efforts ensured that Sumitra was eventually transported to a hospital despite the difficult terrain. However, the incident has also raised questions about the need for reliable last-mile road connectivity in remote villages. (ANI)
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