Post News Network
Telkoi, Oct 18: A pregnant woman of Purujoda panchayat under this block in Keonjhar district was left to writhe in labour pains on Balijodi hilly ghat after the 102-ambulance ferrying her to the hospital ran out of fuel Sunday.
Sukanti Moharana (24) screamed in pain inside the ambulance with a ASHA worker Chinamani Mohanta consoling her. She however, escaped the ordeal after the driver managed to get some diesel and fill it in the vehicle to reach the hospital.
The incident triggered tension in the area as Purujoda samiti member Balabhadra Behera met the victim at the hospital and flayed the incident. Later he lodged a complaint with the chief district medical officer (CDMO) of the hospital. Sukanti recovered at the hospital after the doctors administered her treatment. Doctors treating her termed her condition as satisfactory and progressive.
Residents claimed that health authorities might term it as an isolated incident but it highlights serious ills plaguing the healthcare system in the tribal dominated Keonjhar district.
Sources said the husband of Sukanti rang up one of the two ambulances after she developed labour pains. The driver of the ambulance on getting the call reached Purujoda and carried her accompanied by ASHA worker Chinamani to Telkoi hospital.
They were completely shocked when the vehicle after covering a distance of five km from Purujoda ran out of fuel and came to a grinding halt on Balijodi hill ghat.
They lost all hopes of surviving as the Telkoi hospital was 35 km away from the place.
The driver however, without wasting time stopped a motorcyclist on the ghat and with his help reached nearby Padang village and managed to collect some diesel to fill it in his vehicle and drive to the hospital.
