Woman Gives Birth in Pickup Van Due to Poor Road Access in Lakhimpur

Childbirth on the Road: A Distressing Incident

North Lakhimpur, Oct 7: A woman from Jugibari village in the Lohit Khabolu region of Lakhimpur experienced childbirth in a pickup van while en route to the hospital early Wednesday morning.

The woman, who is the spouse of Manoj Pegu, was in labor and being transported to the Sri Sri Pitambar Deva Goswami District Hospital located in Garmur, Majuli, approximately 20 kilometers away from her home.

Local residents reported that due to the lack of proper road infrastructure in the riverine area, an ambulance or any emergency medical service was unable to reach the village.

Consequently, she was taken in a commercial pickup van around 4:30 AM. The vehicle had to navigate through rough terrain and unstable bridges on the way to the hospital.

Before they could reach the hospital, the woman went into advanced labor and gave birth in the pickup van under the open sky on an embankment in Uttar Dambukial village.

“This is a regrettable incident that should not happen again, although similar cases have occurred in our riverine areas previously,” stated Manab Pratim Pegu, the woman's brother-in-law.

Both the mother and her newborn are currently hospitalized and reported to be in good health.

This incident has once again brought to light the significant challenges faced by residents in Lakhimpur and Majuli regarding access to healthcare services.

Community members expressed that inadequate road and bridge connectivity has made it difficult to access emergency medical services, leading to instances of childbirth occurring outside medical facilities in the broader riverine region.

“We urge the state government to enhance infrastructure, including roads and bridges in the Lohit Khabolu area, to ensure access to essential services like healthcare,” Pegu added.

As of the time of this report, no official statement had been released by the authorities regarding the incident.