Ambulance failure: Newborn delivered on way to hospital dies

Kalyansinghpur: In yet another incident of gross failure of Janani Suraksha Yojana, a newborn girl died just after birth as her mother delivered on the way to hospital after ambulance failed to reach her due to lack of road connectivity to her village Pakheru in Rayagada district.

Soon after the delivery, the condition of the baby deteriorated. With no other alternative, her relatives carried her in a sling and waded through waist-deep water in a canal to reach the hospital.

The relatives alleged that the ambulance vehicle did not turn up even after they called for the service.

Sources said the ASHA worker of Pakheru village informed the 108 and 102 ambulance over phone when the woman writhed in labour pain. However, the vehicle was not available at that time and as the woman's condition deteriorated, her relatives carried her in a sling and covered five kilometres to reach Kalyansinghpur health centre.

Unfortunately, she delivered a baby girl on the way to hospital. But, the newborn died soon after.