Ambulance failure: Rayagada woman delivers in auto

Rayagada: At a time when the state government is coming up with new welfare schemes for expectant mothers, things remain unchanged at the grassroots.

In yet another example of failure of the state-sponsored Janani Surakhya Yojana, a woman of Sunakhandi Tikarpada village under Kalyansighpur block in Rayagada district delivered a baby in an auto on her way to hospital today.

The incident has come as a shock as barely after 24 hours of announcement of setting up of two Maa Gruhas and a delivery point in Kalyansighpur block, an expectant mother had to suffer in the same place in Rayagada.

According to sources, the family members of the woman had called up the 102 ambulance to rush her to Kalyansinghpur Community Health Centre (CHC) after she complained of labour pain.

However, as no vehicle turned up, they were forced to carry her to the hospital in an autorickshaw. Later she delivered a baby boy in the three-wheeler on way to hospital.

Family members said that after the delivery, both the woman and newborn have been admitted to hospital and their condition is said to be critical.