By: Meer Javeed
Handwara, September 16: A pregnant woman gave birth to a baby girl in a newly launched 108 ambulance while being transported to GMC Handwara from Gund Kamal village in the Kralgund tehsil of Kupwara district early this morning.
According to reports, the 108 Emergency Ambulance stationed at CHC Kralgund received a call from the Emergency Response Centre in Jammu regarding a pregnancy case.
At around 12:57 AM on October 16, Zahida Begum, wife of Sajad Ahmad and a resident of Gund Kamal, Qaziabad Kralgund, began experiencing labor pains.
The ambulance team, comprising Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Dawood Ahmad and driver Zaffar Hussain, responded promptly and rushed to Gund Kamal to transport the expectant mother to the hospital.
Upon reaching Gund Kamal, the EMT quickly assessed Zahida Begum’s condition and realized that her delivery was imminent. He promptly moved her into the ambulance, took her vital signs, and advised the left lateral position for the patient as the vehicle sped towards GMC Handwara. Throughout the journey, the EMT monitored her vitals and took note of her obstetric history.
While en route to the hospital, the frequency of contractions increased, and the EMT observed that the baby’s head had begun crowning. Recognizing the urgency, the EMT instructed the driver to stop the ambulance and sought advice from the Emergency Response Centre to assist with the delivery.
Zahida Begum successfully delivered a healthy baby girl inside the ambulance, and both mother and child were reported to be in stable condition. They were later transferred to GMC Handwara for further care.
Confirming the incident, Dr. Aijaz, Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Handwara, stated that the 108 ambulance service is specifically designed for such emergencies. He also confirmed that both the mother and baby are doing well.