Pregnant women live in constant fear in many tribals-dominated villages in Nabarangpur district as an ambulance can’t reach them at the time of need for lack of motorable roads.
A second such incidence came to the fore in the district on Friday after a gap of just two days when a pregnant woman of Murlibai village under Nandahandi block had to walk two km on the muddy road in severe pains to reach a 102-Ambulance.
Kasturi Jani complained of labour pain in morning, following which her family members telephoned for a 102-Ambulance service. However, the ambulance couldn’t reach the village due to a deteriorated road condition. left with no other option, the woman walked two km on the muddy village road assisted by her kin to reach the ambulance. Then the ambulance carried her to the Dangarbheja hospital where she delivered a male child. Condition of the newborn and the mother was stated to be stable.
Years ago, villagers used to commute on a rut track amid farmland. However, they had made the rut track wide by laying earth on their own.
Friday’s incident has sparked off strong resentment among the villagers, who are blaming the district administration for not taking any step to construct a pucca road to the village.
Notably, a pregnant woman, Kalabati Santa (29), of Pahnri Kumuda village under Umerkote block, had delivered a child on the village road on Tuesday night while being carried to a hospital on a cot by her kin as an ambulance couldn’t move to the village due to muddy road.