A poignant story of courage and community support unfolded in the tribal heartland of Odisha when a pregnant woman from Sargipani village in Koksara block was forced to deliver her baby on a jungle trail due to inaccessible roads.
The incident occurred on Friday as Hiramani Santa, residing in the remote and forested village under the Sahajkhol area, began experiencing labor pains. With no motorable road and ambulances unable to reach the locality, ASHA worker Urmila Thakur was informed and made her way to the village through arduous terrain.
Despite poor network connectivity, Thakur managed to notify the 102 ambulance service by reaching a high point. But with no pucca road connecting Sargipani to the national highway, Hiramani had to be carried nearly three kilometres on rocky paths by her husband and community members. En route, she gave birth to a healthy baby.
The mother and child were then safely transported via ambulance to Koksara hospital. Doctors confirmed that both were stable, though the mother had experienced heavy bleeding. Treatment continues under medical supervision.
This incident highlights the pressing need for improved rural healthcare infrastructure, especially in tribal-dominated and geographically isolated regions like Sargipani.
