RAYAGADA: A pregnant woman of Purunabhatta village in flood-hit Kalyansinghpur block of the district had to be carried across Kalyani river precariously on a bamboo raft on July 18. The incident came to light on Friday exposing the poor healthcare system.
Sources said after the woman, identified as Ammalu Wadeka, developed labour pain, youths of Badaduara Sahi made a bamboo raft to shift her to Kalyansinghpur hospital as the road connectivity was snapped after a bridge at Purunabhatta had collapsed in flash floods in Kalyani river on July 16. Her husband, Sankar Wadeka, claimed that with no other option, they had taken upon themselves the task to shift her to the hospital.
After crossing the river, they took Ammalu to Kalyansinghpur CHC, which is 1 km away from the river, on a two-wheeler. She delivered a baby boy in the CHC. When contacted, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Sarojkant Nayak said on the fateful day, all Government machineries, including NDRF, ODRAF, CRPF and fire tender teams were engaged in rescue operation in flood-hit areas.
The family did not sought the assistance of the administration while on the same day, a woman, Rebati Mahanandia of Badaduara Sahi near Purunabhatta village, was rescued by the NDRF. She was admitted to CHC and later shifted to DHH where she delivered a girl child, he added.