A pregnant woman from Malitipadar village in Rayagada district was carried across the Nagabali River and through 4 kilometers of muddy terrain to reach a health center during labor.
Anita Majhi, a resident of Silat Panchayat under Rampur Block, began experiencing severe labor pains on Saturday night. With heavy rains and no motorable roads, her husband Lalu Majhi was unable to call for help. By morning, he contacted the 102 ambulance service, but the vehicle couldn’t reach their village due to dangerous conditions and lack of connectivity.
Determined to save Anita, her family tied her in a saree and carried her on foot across the swollen Nagabali River and through slippery, unpaved paths. After nearly 4 kilometers of struggle, they reached a point where the ambulance could pick her up and take her to the Kalyansinghpur Community Health Center.
Despite being extremely weak, Anita gave birth to a healthy baby girl after receiving medical attention. Both mother and child are now stable, according to hospital sources.
This incident has sparked renewed questions about the state of rural infrastructure and healthcare delivery in Odisha’s tribal regions, where such ordeals are tragically common.
