Rapid response saves mother and newborn during heavy downpour in Jamjodhpur

On the evening of July 7, a village in Jamjodhpur tehsil was cut off by rising floodwaters. A pregnant woman in labour alerted the 108 emergency number, prompting EMT Hasmukh Sagathia and driver Komlesh Kantaria to dispatch immediately.

Because the ambulance could not penetrate the water‑logged fields, the duo proceeded on foot to the house. Their rapid assessment indicated that waiting for transport would increase the risk of birth complications, so they performed a safe, on‑site delivery using portable medical kits.

Following a successful delivery, locals formed a human chain to move the mother and newborn on a stretcher across the mud‑filled track to the waiting ambulance, covering roughly 500 metres. The pair were then taken to Jamjodhpur sub‑district hospital where doctors confirmed their wellbeing.

The operation underscores the dedication of Gujarat's free 108 ambulance system, which aims to reach every village, even under adverse weather conditions.