In yet another incident that sheds light on the poor access to health services for a majority of the population, a woman was forced to deliver a premature baby – who died minutes after birth – on the roadside when she was being taken to a hospital in a rickshaw after calls by the family to the 108 Ambulance service went unattended.
According to her husband Kannu, a rickshaw-puller hailing from Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh, he called 108 ambulance service several times after his wife went in labour pain but no one received the call.
Getting no response, he decided to take his wife along with two other women relatives to Sadar hospital on his rickshaw.
But as they reached Company Bagh chowk, his wife's pain increased, he claimed, following which they made her sit on the roadside where she delivered a baby.
The newborn, who was premature, died within minutes, he alleged.
An ambulance reached the spot half an hour later after some passersby made a call to the 108 Ambulance service, and took the woman to a hospital where her condition is stated to be serious.
Meanwhile, the Civil Surgeon here has denied any negligence on part of the department officials.
(With PTI inputs)
