Traffic blocks for Maya prove costly

In the first incident on February 27,45-year-old Geeta Balmiki of Bulandshahr’s Morain village became unconscious following a high fever and headache. The family decided to take her to the district hospital,about 20 km away,in neighbour Ved Prakash’s car.

Geeta’s husband Prem Singh,their son Deepak and daughter Payal accompanied her. Around 2 kms ahead of the hospital,the police stopped them,said Prem Singh.

“We pleaded that my wife’s condition was very bad,but the police said they will not allow anyone until the Chief Minister had passed,” he said. Mayawati was visiting the same hospital.

Prem Singh said they took another route,but again the policed stopped them. “For two hours,we kept looking for a way to reach the hospital but in vain. My wife died and we returned home,” said Prem Singh.

Bulandshahr SSP RKS Rathore said: “The SP (City) is conducting an inquiry,there was a traffic diversion on that route but there was no order to stop any vehicle.”

The other two incidents took place in Hardoi district during Mayawati’s visit on Tuesday. Again,Mayawati was visiting the district hospital where the women were being taken.

In Chachrapur village,45-year-old Guddi had developed labour pains when her husband Ram Kishan and his brother Om Prakash put her in an autorickshaw and decided to take her to the district hospital which is 13.5 kms away.

About 2 kms short of the hospital,the autorickshaw was caught in a jam caused by traffic restrictions imposed in view of the Chief Minister’s visit. The jam cleared after about 45 minutes.

Om Prakash said when they reached the hospital gates,they were stopped because the Chief Minister was inspecting the hospital. For about 15 minutes they were stuck there. Guddi,meanwhile,delivered a baby boy inside the autorickshaw.

The mother and baby were admitted to the hospital. On Wednesday,they were discharged after doctors declared them healthy.

Similar is the story of 27-year-old Pinky of Lalpur village who delivered her baby in a bus while on way to hospital. She was accompanied by sister-in-law Maya and an ASHA worker. Since her husband Ram Sagar was away,the two women had decided to take her to the Hardoi district hospital after she complained of labour pains.

“The bus was caught in a jam,” said Maya. “We requested a sub-inspector to help,but he ignored us. We were trapped there for about 45 minutes and Pinky delivered her baby in the bus.”

The women then put Pinky and her baby boy in a rickshaw which somehow managed to reach the hospital. Asked about the incidents,Hardoi SP Love Kumar said: “An inquiry will be conducted and action will be taken if anyone is found guilty.”