Deogarh: In a freak mishap, a woman who had just given birth to a baby boy died after a tree fell on the auto-rickshaw in which she was being taken to hospital near Mandanalli under Tileibani block of Deogarh district Tuesday.
The victim was identified as Manju Sethy, wife of Benu Sethy of Sankharkhol.
Sources said Manju was in an advanced stage of pregnancy and went into labour Tuesday morning. Family members called 108 ambulance service but it did not turn up. Meanwhile, Manju gave birth to a baby boy at her house with the help of a local Asha worker. Manju’s health worsened after the childbirth.
Helpless family members booked an auto-rickshaw and admitted Manju to the local health centre. However, attending doctors referred her to the Deogarh district headquarters hospital.
Meanwhile, the forest corporation was felling trees along the National Highway. A huge tree fell on the vehicle that was carrying Manju. Manju sustained critical injuries compounding her health woes. Later, she died on the way to the hospital while the newborn was said to be safe.
The incident triggered outrage in the area as hundreds of locals flocked to the spot and staged a road blockade on the National Highway for hours halting down vehicles on the main road. On hearing the news, Deogarh MLA Nitesh Gangdev and Zilla Parishad chairperson Sushama Behera reached the spot and pacified the angry mob.
However, agitated demonstrators remained firm and demanded stern action in this regard. The road blockade continued from noon till evening for more than 7 hours, sources said.
Deogarh IIC Ratnakar Mallick, reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Agitated mob relented back after a compensation of Rs 1 lakh was given by a construction company, Rs 10,000 from Red Cross and Rs 2,000 from Harishchandra Yojana Funds. A written petition was handed over to the bereaved family members for free education for Manju’s children and a house under ‘Indira Awas Yojana’.PNN