'No delivery facilities, poor connectivity': Pregnant woman walks 6 km from remote Maharashtra village for childbirth; dies

GADCHIROLI: A pregnant woman died after walking nearly six kilometres through forest terrain as her village in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district remains cut off from the main road and lacks medical facilities for childbirth, an official said on Friday.

The woman, identified as Asha Santosh Kiranga (24), a resident of Aaldandi Tola in Etapalli taluka, was nine months pregnant. Her village has no delivery facilities and poor connectivity, according to news agency PTI.


"Her native Aaldandi Tola village is cut off from the main road, with no delivery facilities available there. The patient, hoping for timely help, set out on January 1 with her husband, trudging 6 kilometres through jungle paths to her sister's home in Petha. However, the ordeal in her heavy, advanced stage of pregnancy took a toll on her body," the official said.

"On the morning of January 2, she began experiencing severe labour pains. She was rushed by ambulance to Kali Ammal Hospital in Hedri. Though the doctors decided on a caesarean operation, it was too late by then. The baby had already died in the womb. Due to rising blood pressure, the woman too passed away soon after," he said.

When contacted, Gadchiroli District Health Officer Dr Pratap Shinde said the woman had been registered through ASHA workers.

"The sudden labour pains and complications likely arose due to walking. Doctors tried to save her, but were unsuccessful. A detailed report has been called for from the taluka health officer, and the matter will be investigated," he said.