Uttar Pradesh: newborn dies after ambulance gets stuck on broken road

Lucknow: A newborn baby died after a government ambulance carrying the infant’s mother was stranded for nearly two hours on a badly damaged road in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the consequences of neglect of basic infrastructure in rural areas.

The incident occurred in Gadhwar village in the Bah area. On September 2, Pradeep Singh’s wife went into labour, prompting the family to call a government ambulance. However, the vehicle became stuck on the damaged road while taking her to the hospital.

With the ambulance unable to move, local residents tied it to a tractor and pulled it out. The woman eventually reached the hospital after considerable difficulty, but according to the family’s complaint, the newborn had stopped breathing by then.

Pradeep Kumar later approached the authorities, demanding stringent action against those responsible for failing to repair and maintain the road.

The complaint, submitted during the Tehsil Day hearing on September 5, was forwarded to the Public Works Department, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vinod Kumar said. The department has been asked to submit a report, after which further action will be taken, he said.

The tragedy has triggered a political backlash. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav shared a news clip of the incident on X and blamed administrative corruption for the death.

The incident has renewed questions over the condition of rural roads in Uttar Pradesh, where an emergency medical journey turned into a desperate rescue operation. The ambulance could move only after villagers used a tractor to pull it out, causing further delay before the mother reached the hospital.

The family has sought accountability from officials responsible for road maintenance, while authorities await the Public Works Department’s report before deciding on further action.