Odisha pregnant woman carried 5 km to reach ambulance

A 35-year-old pregnant woman, Suku Majhi, was carried for approximately 5 km on a makeshift cloth sling through hilly terrain to reach an ambulance in the Rayagada district of Odisha, India.

Due to a lack of motorable roads in Malipadar village, the ambulance could only reach the Aliguna area. After being carried to the vehicle, the woman was first taken to the Sungeri primary health centre. Because no doctor was available at that location, she was referred to the Kashipur community health centre, and eventually to the Rayagada district headquarters hospital as her condition worsened. She subsequently delivered a stillborn baby.

This incident follows a similar occurrence in the same block last week, where another woman faced significant delays in reaching medical assistance due to inadequate road connectivity in remote tribal areas.