Bhopal, August 14, 2024 — In a tragic incident highlighting severe healthcare lapses, a pregnant woman in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district was forced to rely on a sanitation worker to deliver her child after multiple attempts to secure medical assistance failed. The newborn tragically did not survive.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning around 9 am in the village of Kharai. Despite repeated appeals, ambulances failed to arrive to transport the expectant mother, identified as 32-year-old Rani, to the nearest hospital or Primary Health Centre (PHC). Upon eventually reaching the hospital, her family was met with an alarming situation—there were no doctors or nurses available to assist with the delivery.
In the absence of qualified medical personnel, a sanitation worker employed at the hospital attempted to deliver the child. Unfortunately, the baby did not survive the delivery.
A video of the sanitation worker admitting to performing the delivery has been widely circulated online. In the video, she states that she was compelled to act due to the absence of any doctors or nurses at the hospital. According to local reports, the hospital’s doctor was on leave that day, and the nurse assigned to the hospital was unaccounted for.
The sanitation worker involved in the incident has reportedly been dismissed from her position. However, questions have arisen about the broader healthcare failures, including the lack of ambulance services. Under Madhya Pradesh state law, ambulances are required to transport pregnant women to the nearest district hospital or PHC immediately upon receiving a call for help. In Rani’s case, this protocol was not followed.
District Health Officer Sanjay Risheshwar has confirmed that an investigation is underway, promising “strict action” against those responsible. It remains unclear if any action will be taken against the absent medical staff.
