Mayurbhanj: It seems the government’s claim of providing house to every homeless in the State is a big joke as a woman was forced to give birth to a baby under a culvert here after her house was destroyed by an elephant herd six months ago.

Pramila Tiria, wife of Manglu Tiria of Sarubila village under Sukruli block in Mayurbhanj district, had delivered a baby under a culvert on May 3, a doctor attending her said adding the condition of two are stable now.

According to sources, a herd of elephant destroyed the house of Pramila about six months before. Later they built a temporary thatched house at there and used to stay over there. But the house was again damage due to Nor’wester rains a few days ago.

Finding no other help, pregnant Pramila used to stay under a tree in the day time and spent night in a culvert nearby her house with her husband and six children.

“I have no house. I have given birth to my child here (in culvert),” the hapless woman told reporters alleging neither local people nor any governmnet officials helped them.

Soon after the incident came to light, Dakhina Ranjan Tudu, a doctor from Raruan community health centre (CHC), rushed to the spot and got the mother-baby admitted in the hospital.

“I had brought them to hospital in my own vehicle and now the health condition of mother and baby is fine,” the doctor said.

Meanwhile, the District Administration assured to rehabilitate the distressed family and to probe into the matter. “We will examine whose lapses led to the unfortunate incident and fix responsibility. Why the forest department officials have not compensated after their house was damaged by elephants,” said Gangadhar Nayak, Additional District Magistrate of Mayurbhanj.