Bhawanipatna: A pregnant woman in Odisha's Kalahandi district had to be carried on a stretcher for nearly two kilometres after a Janani Express ambulance failed to reach her village due to the poor condition of the road. The incident took place at Ghutiguda village under Thuamul Rampur block.

According to reports, Ranjita Majhi went into labour on Saturday night, following which her family contacted the Janani Express ambulance service. However, the ambulance could not enter the village as the connecting road was muddy and badly damaged. After waiting for a long time, the ambulance had to return.

With no other option available, the family hired an auto-rickshaw at their own expense on Sunday morning. Villagers then tied a stretcher with bamboo poles and carried the pregnant woman for about two kilometres to the main road. From there, she was taken by the auto-rickshaw to the Thuamul Rampur Community Health Centre.

Villagers alleged that they have repeatedly appealed to the administration to construct an all-weather road connecting the village, but their requests have gone unheard. They said the lack of proper road connectivity forces patients, especially pregnant women, to face life-threatening situations whenever medical emergencies arise.