The city ushered in a baby into the world in the most unusual circumstance on Thursday. A 23-year-old woman, who came to the city to get admitted in a hospital, delivered a baby girl on the roadside on the busy Mysuru Road, with the help of an alert traffic police official.
Police sub-inspector Gopalakrishna, who was on duty near Gali Anjaneya Circle, noticed Selvi suddenly collapse on the roadside and writhing in pain.
He rushed to her side and saw that she was not only heavily pregnant, but also bleeding. Without wasting a minute, with the help of a pourakarmika, he pulled her onto the footpath and passers-by got some clothes to cover her up. “There was no time to take her to hospital or call a doctor. Our only hope was to deliver the baby and pray that mother and child would be safe,” he said.
Mr. Gopalakrishna called the 108 Ambulance service.
A few women rushed to his help and within seconds, Selvi delivered a baby girl.
The crowd that had gathered at the spot cheered Mr. Gopalakrishna. Meanwhile, the ambulance reached the spot and Selvi and her baby were taken to Vani Vilas Hospital. The doctors, who examined them, said the mother and baby were healthy.
The police said Selvi hailed from Kallukuchi village in Tamil Nadu. She was married to a construction labourer, Raju, who died in an accident recently. Raju’s family was upset and sent Selvi to the city to deliver the baby.
So, she took a bus to the city and reached Mysuru Road to get herself admitted to a government hospital for free delivery. I got down at Mysore Satellite bus-stand and that’s when labour pain set in, Selvi told the police.
Her parents have been informed.
