Monsoon-Marooned: Telangana Woman in Labour Reaches Ambulance by Bullock Cart

In a stark reminder of rural infrastructure gaps, a pregnant woman in a remote Telangana hamlet had to be transported on a bullock cart to reach an ambulance that could not navigate the rain-soaked road.

Karishma, a resident of Sarkepalli in Wankidi mandal of Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, went into labour on September 5. Her family called the 108 emergency service, but the vehicle was forced to stop near Marepalli after the approach road became impassable due to mud and rain.

With no motorable alternative, villagers and relatives arranged a bullock cart to carry Karishma across the difficult stretch to the waiting ambulance. She was then taken to Wankidi Government Hospital, where she delivered a baby girl. Both mother and child are reported to be safe.

District Collector K. Haritha acknowledged that some remote habitations become temporarily inaccessible to vehicles during the monsoon. She said authorities actively track pregnant women by their expected delivery dates and try to move them to primary health centres in advance. "But sometimes things come up unexpectedly. Even in such cases, our medical staff will be assisting them in every manner possible," she added.

This is not an isolated incident in the tribal district. In August 2024, another pregnant woman had to be moved by bullock cart for about 2.5 km to reach an ambulance, but tragically lost her unborn child. Officials fear many similar cases go unreported, underscoring the persistent challenges residents of remote habitations face in accessing emergency healthcare and other essential services during the monsoon.