Phulbani: A miracle as it might sound, a pregnant woman delivered a healthy baby boy at a road accident site after the vehicle ferrying them turned turtle. Three of her co-passengers including the driver and two women died on the spot.
Some10 others in the vehicle were injured in the mishap whereas the woman and the baby were rescued safely. Although the town went into a shock over the three deaths, the escape of the woman and her baby came as some relief. Locals termed it as miraculous as they flocked to have a glance of the baby and its mother.
The incident happened at Deplang Ghat under K Nuagaon block in Kandhamal district Tuesday. The woman, Masia Pradhan, and her baby were admitted to the Baliguda sub-divisional hospital where their condition was stated to be normal.
The deceased were Gabriel Digal, driver of the vehicle, and two women Limari Pradhan and Mundari Pradhan of Gandrigia village. The vehicle was ferrying people to K Nuagaon for their daily chores. Among them were Masia and an Asha worker who was taking Masia to a hospital for delivery. Apparently, in the impact of the accident, the woman delivered on the spot.
The vehicle turned turtle near a ghat, leading to the death of three persons on the spot, while 10 others were injured. Masia and the Asha worker got caught inside the vehicle. Masia experienced labour pain and delivered a baby boy there itself. Passers-by called 108 Ambulance and rushed the victims and the mother and baby to a hospital.
Police sent the bodies for post-mortem. A case has been registered and an investigation is on. PNN
