KURAVILANGAD: A woman was forced to deliver a baby in an auto after the hospital staff on duty allegedly turned her away. She later delivered the baby in an auto 100 metres away from the hospital. The incident happened Sunday night at the taluk hospital in Kuravilangad.

Vineetha, wife of V C Saji of Thottuva was in labour on Sunday. Her husband Saji soon approached auto driver Anil Kumar Sunday midnight. When the auto reached the premises of Kuravilangad government hospital, she was in severe pain. They soon entered the hospital. The nurse and the security guard came out after a long call. Despite repeated requests, they refused to attend on her and directed to take her to Pala.

They soon left for Pala Government Hospital. Before reaching hundred metres, the woman fell on the vehicle’s platform. The woman delivered before the auto stopped. Following that, the auto driver approached the 108 Ambulance lying on hospital grounds. The male nurse had no experience in maternity care. The mother and the baby were soon taken to Kottayam Medical College Hospital. Saji, Vineetha and their two children earn a living by collecting scrap.

Meantime, block panchayat president Thomas T Kappuram said that he spoke to the hospital superintendent. Unable to know the seriousness of the incident and as the patient was treated at Pala, directed to go there, the superintendent said, added Thomas.