Lack of motorable road in remote hamlet in Tiruppur district forces family to carry pregnant woman 7 km to hospital

Family members of the 22-year-old carried her on a makeshift stretcher downhill, through the forest, in a grueling journey that took several hours; the woman subsequently delivered a baby girl

Nagammal, 22, was carried by her husband and other relatives on a makeshift stretcher strung on bamboo poles from Kuzhipatti to the Thirumoorthy Hill Settlement and from there to a PHC | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In the absence of a motorable road, a pregnant woman in labour, was carried on a makeshift stretcher fastened to bamboo poles by her husband and relatives, down to the plains, from a remote hamlet in the hilly terrains near Udumalpet, in a grueling 7 km forest trek that took several hours, on Monday, April 8, 2024.

The woman, Nagammal (22) was taken to the Thirumoorthy Hill Settlement and from there, in a vehicle to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Erisanampatti, located about 15 km away.

Nagammal delivered a female baby at the PHC, sources close to her family said.

The residents of Kuzhipatti, where Nagammal and her family live, as well as residents of other nearby tribal settlements have, for long, been asking for road connectivity to their villages, located in the forests in Anamalai Tiger Reserve, so that sick people can be transported to hospitals in ambulances without the loss of valuable time.

In deference to their plea, the Tiruppur district administration had, last year, prevailed upon the Dhali Town Panchayat to approve of a project to lay a road from Kurumalai, close to the hilly hamlets, to the Thirumoorthy Hill Settlement. The project at a cost of ₹49 lakh is underway, official sources said.