Pregnant women in Ganjam and Gajapati districts evacuated ahead of cyclone Montha

Berhampur: Over 330 pregnant women in Ganjam and Gajapati districts have been shifted to nearby hospitals and Maa Gruhas (transit houses) due to the possibility of heavy rain in both districts under the influence of cyclone Montha. Out of them, 88 women delivered safely till Monday evening. The accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers started shifting the women from Sunday evening.Till Monday evening, 113 pregnant women had been shifted to the nearby hospitals or Maa Gruhas in Gajapati district, while 220 had been shifted in Ganjam district. While 81 women delivered safely in Ganjam, seven women delivered in Gajapati district, sources said. All pregnant women of the districts would be shifted before the heavy rain under the influence of cyclone Montha, which is likely to make landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday evening. “The district administration has given priority to shift the pregnant women to the nearby hospitals and accordingly issued the directions,” said Sukant Kumar Nayak, CDMO of Ganjam. They have identified around 1,100 women for the shifting.Pregnant women who are a week away from their expected date of delivery, have been shifted for their smooth deliveries, said Muhammad Mubarak, chief district medical officer (CDMO), Gajapati. He said they have identified 308 pregnant women for shifting.