Poor road conditions in Rayagada district once again highlighted rural healthcare struggles on Tuesday, preventing an ambulance from reaching a pregnant woman in Kancha Karada village.
The pregnant woman, identified as Suseni Sabar, wife of Juel Sabar, went into labour around 9 AM. Her family promptly dialled 108 for an ambulance. However, due to the unpaved and deteriorating road, the vehicle was forced to stop nearly 3 kilometres away at Pandraguda.
Faced with a crucial delay, ambulance driver Dangeti Suresh demonstrated extraordinary duty and empathy. Leaving the vehicle behind, Suresh walked 3 kilometres into Kancha Karada village to assist the family.
Together with the family members, the driver helped carry Suseni on a wooden cot over the 3-kilometre stretch back to the waiting ambulance.
While en route to the healthcare facility, Suseni gave birth to a baby girl inside the vehicle after travelling about 8 kilometres. Both the mother and the newborn were subsequently admitted to the Padmapur Community Health Centre (CHC). Medical staff confirmed that both mother and child are stable and in good health.
Residents commended driver Dangeti Suresh for his swift action and dedication. At the same time, the incident has renewed anger among local villagers over persistent infrastructure deficits.
Villagers stated that the absence of a motorable road forces sick individuals and expectant mothers to suffer routinely during emergencies. They appealed directly to the Rayagada district administration to construct a proper all-weather road connecting Kancha Karada to prevent future life-threatening delays.
