In yet another incident highlighting the lack of basic infrastructure in remote areas, a pregnant woman was carried on a makeshift stretcher for nearly two kilometres after an ambulance failed to reach her village due to the absence of a proper road. The tragic incident was reported from Koshalpada village under Chacharabhata in Khaprakhol block of Odisha’s Balangir district.

According to sources, the woman went into labour on Wednesday following which an ambulance was called to the village. However, the vehicle could not enter the village as there was no motorable road connectivity.

Left with no other option, family members carried the pregnant woman on a makeshift carrier for around 1.5 kilometres to reach the ambulance point. Later, ambulance staff reportedly shifted her on a stretcher for another half kilometre before she was finally taken to Khaprakhol hospital.

After reaching the hospital, the woman delivered one baby. She was later shifted to Patnagarh hospital where she gave birth to another child. Sadly, both the newborn twins died.

Family members alleged that the delay caused due to poor road connectivity and lack of basic healthcare infrastructure led to the death of the two infants.

The incident has once again exposed the grim reality of healthcare access in remote tribal and rural pockets of the state, where patients are often forced to depend on makeshift arrangements during medical emergencies.

No official reaction from the administration had been received till the filing of this report.