The patient.
Bahraich: In a deeply distressing incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, a 34-year-old pregnant woman allegedly injured herself with a kitchen knife while experiencing severe labour pain at her home on Thursday. Doctors later performed emergency treatment and delivered a healthy baby girl at a local hospital, according to The Free Press Journal.
The woman, identified as Nanikai Kumari, was reportedly alone when she went into labour on the afternoon of February 20. According to local accounts cited by The Times of India, her husband had passed away a few months earlier after a prolonged illness, leaving her to look after their four sons.
With no immediate medical assistance available and overwhelmed by intense pain, she allegedly used a vegetable knife to cut her abdomen while still in labour. Her screams alerted neighbours, who rushed to the house and found her in critical condition.
Villagers immediately arranged for her to be taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors provided emergency medical care. The medical team managed to stabilise her and safely deliver the baby girl.
Hospital authorities said both mother and newborn are currently under close medical supervision. Officials have not yet issued a detailed statement on her condition, but sources indicated that she is recovering following the emergency procedure.
A video purportedly showing the woman on a hospital stretcher has been circulating on social media. In the clip, she is heard describing the severe pain she experienced and the circumstances that led to her actions. Authorities have not commented on the authenticity of the footage.
The incident has sparked concern in the region about access to timely maternal healthcare in rural areas, particularly for women without immediate family support.