A t dusk on August 29, Manju Devi was rushed to the primary health centre (PHC) in Rajod town of Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. Her labour pain had begun prematurely.

At the PHC, about 5 k.m. from her parents’ home in Nandana village, Dr. Anil Bhaware referred her to the district hospital, 65 km away, as there was a pregnancy complication and the PHC lacked oxygen support.

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Devi’s husband, Devram Katara, and her father, Harichand Meda, rushed to arrange for a private van as the government-run 108 ambulance was out of service allegedly due to a flat tyre.

In the early hours of August 30, Devi gave birth to a girl. The child had congenital anomalies and was referred t

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