Balangir: In a tragic incident, two newborn babies died after a pregnant woman was carried in a sling to reach an ambulance due to lack of motorable road in Koshalpada of Khaprakhol block in Odisha's Balangir district.

According to reports, Seema Dharua, wife of Rohit Dharua, experienced labour pain, following which her family called for an ambulance. However, the ambulance could not reach the village as there was no motorable road connecting Koshalpada to the main road. Family members and villagers then carried the pregnant woman in a sling for more than 1.5 kilometres to reach the ambulance.

She was first taken to Khaprakhol Hospital, where she delivered a baby. During treatment, doctors reportedly found that she was carrying another child and referred her to Patnagarh Hospital.

Seema gave birth to the second baby at the Patnagarh Hospital. As the condition of the newborns deteriorated, they were being shifted to Balangir District Headquarters Hospital, during which the newborns died.

Expressing grief over the deaths of the newborns, Rohit Dharua alleged that villagers had been demanding a proper road to Koshalpada for a long time, but no action had been taken by the authorities.

Following media reports on the incident, Khaprakhol Block Development Officer Rajkishore Naik visited the village and inquired into the matter.

Locals have alleged that delayed medical access led to the deaths of the twin newborns.