Andhra Pradesh: Pregnant Woman Carried 6 km On Stretcher Due To Lack Of Ambulance

The woman's husband, Korra Ramesh attempted to arrange for emergency medical help through the 108 ambulance service but when no ambulance arrived.

Devi is currently receiving treatment, and her condition is reported to be stable.

Source : Special arrangement

A pregnant woman in labour was carried on a stretcher for 6 kilometers in Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, due to the unavailability of ambulance services. The woman, identified as Korra Devi from Pitrigadda Konda village, experienced severe labour pains late at night.

Her husband, Korra Ramesh, attempted to arrange for emergency medical help through the 108 ambulance service, but when no ambulance arrived, he had no choice but to transport her manually. With the help of family members, Devi was placed on a stretcher (locally called DOLI) and carried down from the hilly village to the nearest road, where a private auto-rickshaw was arranged to take her to the Buchampet Primary Health Center.

"Due to the remote location and lack of ambulance services, we had no option but to carry her on a stretcher," Ramesh explained. Health officials have since launched an investigation into the failure of emergency services in this area.

Devi is currently receiving treatment, and her condition is reported to be stable.

This incident is reminiscent of a 2018 case from Visakhapatnam district, where a pregnant woman was similarly carried to a hospital on a makeshift stretcher due to poor road connectivity. Both cases highlight ongoing challenges in providing timely healthcare access to remote regions of Andhra Pradesh.

Last year, the family of a 12-year-old boy who died from a snake bite at Vellore Government Hospital had to carry his body on their shoulders for 3 kilometers to perform the last rites in Tirupathur. The family was forced to make the trek due to the lack of proper road access in the Kathavalam area near Ambur. Following the incident, Tirupathur Collector Amar Kushwaha met with the grieving family and assured them that basic facilities would be provided to the Irula community in the area.