A roadside delivery in ambulance in Tripura has once again spotlighted both the heroism of an individual and the glaring loopholes in the healthcare system in Teliamura sub-division Hospital.
Narayan Biswas, a seasoned ambulance driver, made headlines for the second time in 15 days as he successfully delivered a baby inside his vehicle while en route to GB Hospital.
The incident has drawn attention not only to his quick thinking and bravery but also to the challenges faced by patients due to alleged inapt handling of medical emergency by Teliamura Hospital.
The dramatic events unfolded in the early hours of Sunday. Jyesthalakshmi Debbarma, a 20-year-old tribal woman from the remote village of Dushki under Teliamura police station, was rushed to Teliamura Sub-Divisional Hospital with severe labor pains.
It is alleged, the attending physician, citing inadequate resources, referred her to GB Hospital in Agartala, 50 kilometers away despite her critical condition.
As the ambulance raced along the national highway, the situation took a dire turn at the Khayerpur area.
Jyesthalakshmi’s labor progressed rapidly, and her water broke inside the vehicle. By the time the ambulance reached Khayerpur, the baby’s head had already begun to emerge.
With no medical personnel on board, Narayan Biswas took matters into his own hands.
Displaying extraordinary composure under pressure, Biswas successfully delivered the baby in the confined space of the ambulance, ensuring the safety of both mother and child.
He then resumed the journey to GB Hospital, where doctors confirmed that both the new born and mother were in good health.
A Repeat of Heroism
This is not the first time Biswas has stepped into a role far beyond his job description. Just two weeks ago, he delivered another baby under similar circumstances.
His actions, while heroic, underline a deeper issue: the systemic inadequacies in the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
“It’s not a matter of pride for me,” Biswas remarked modestly. “I do what I must in emergencies. I am happy that the mother and baby are in good health.”
Healthcare System Under Scrutiny
Despite his modest reply, the incident has reignited debates about the state of healthcare in Teliamura.
Critics have pointed fingers at the local hospital for referring a patient in active labor without adequate preparation or support.
Questions have been raised as to whether the physician at Teliamura conducted a thorough examination before making the referral to GB Hospital -50 km away.
Local residents and activists argue that cases like Jyesthalakshmi’s reflect broader systemic failures, where critical medical tasks are being performed not by trained professionals but by individuals like Biswas, who act out of necessity.
“The fact that a driver is forced to deliver babies in an ambulance is both commendable and deeply troubling,” said a health rights advocate.
“While we applaud Biswas’s courage for successfully conducting ‘delivery on wheels‘, this situation exposes how vulnerable patients are when the healthcare system fails them.”
Family expresses gratitude
Amid the criticism, Jyesthalakshmi’s family expressed heartfelt gratitude to Biswas.
“He is more than a driver; he is an angel sent by God,” said Jyesthalakshmi’s mother and added, “Without him, we don’t know what would have happened to my daughter and her baby.”
For now, both mother and child are stable and recovering well, but the ‘delivery on wheels‘ incident serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by those in underserved areas.
As Biswas continues his routine duties, his extraordinary actions have sparked a call for systemic reforms to ensure that no family has to rely on sheer luck and the heroism of non-medically individuals in moments of medical crisis.
(Tripura, Northeast)
