Woman carried across river, delivers in 108 ambulance

RAJKOT: Thirty-year-old Meena from Datardi village of Rajula taluka in Amreli, might not have dreamt that she will have to deliver her child in an ambulance. On Monday, as Meena went into labour pain, her family member called the 108 emergency ambulance service which arrived on time. But because of incessant rains over the last four days, the road joining Khara and Dataradi village was cut off.
Heavy rains have also flooded check dams in parts of coastal Bhavnagar and Amreli districts causing road blockades. "When the ambulance reached the village it could not cross the flowing water. So, villagers and paramedical staff carried the woman on a stretcher from her home to the ambulance across the flowing water where she delivered a healthy baby girl," said a source. Meena was later taken to a government hospital in Mahuva town as it was not possible to reach the hospital in Rajula where Meena used to go for regular check-ups.
The latest spell of the rain that accompanied the monsoon withdrawal has reduced rainfall deficiency to 15% in the last two days. From 75% of average annual rainfall on Friday, Saurashtra's rainfall has reached 85% on Monday.
On Monday, major rainfall occurred in Visavadar (55mm), Bhesan (22mm), Palitana (40mm), Rajula (30mm), Jafarabad (30mm) and Lodhika (25mm) of Rajkot. Rains came as a surprise to most farmers in Saurashtra. It came as a blessing when it was needed the most in absence of adequate irrigation water.
Taking agrarian crisis into account, the state government had decided to provide 10 hour power supply to farmers to help pump out ground water to save their crop. "The latest spell of rains brought good inflow of water into check dams and other water bodies which will help farmers and also help raise ground water levels," said a government official. Moreover, according to Narmada water resources department, water levels in all dams of Saurashtra have reportedly increased by 3% in the last four days.