In a heart‑wrenching incident that exposes the grim reality of rural infrastructure, a pregnant woman from Ghutiguda village under Thuamul Rampur block was carried nearly two kilometres on a stretcher after an ambulance failed to reach her due to the deplorable condition of the road.
The woman, Ranjita Majhi, went into labour late Friday night. Her family immediately called the Janani Express ambulance, but the vehicle could not navigate the muddy, broken road leading to the village. After waiting for hours without help, the ambulance reportedly turned back.
On Saturday morning, the family hired a private auto‑rickshaw. With the help of villagers, they tied a makeshift stretcher and carried Ranjita through the slushy terrain for two kilometres until they reached the main road, from where she was taken by auto to the Thuamul Rampur Community Health Centre.
The incident has reignited concerns over the lack of all‑weather roads and emergency healthcare access in remote Kalahandi. Villagers said repeated pleas for road construction have gone unanswered, leaving the sick, elderly, and pregnant women vulnerable during emergencies.
Locals have urged the administration to take immediate steps to improve connectivity and ensure timely medical assistance in the region.
