The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sought an action taken report from Meghalaya Chief Secretary after a mother lost her newborn during a traffic jam caused by a fishing competition at Pamphyrnai in Ksehkohlong village, located close to the Shillong-Nongstoiñ highway.
NCW chairperson, Rekha Sharma has expressed concern over the incident and has asked Chief Secretary, Donald P Wahlang to submit the report within seven days to the commission.
Sharma said all necessary support to the mother, of the deceased baby should be extended. “It is utmost crucial to conduct a program to sensitize people of Meghalaya to deal with such cases with empathy,” she stressed.
It may be mentioned that the pregnant mother, Daphiralin Jyrwa of Mawthawniaw village, delivered a male baby inside a tourist taxi on September 16. She was travelling to hospital to deliver her baby, but was stuck in the road at Nongspung for hours as the tourist taxi she was travelling could not move due to the massive traffic jam including thousands of people both anglers and spectators attending the fishing competition occupied the highway.
Despite desperate pleas from her relatives to clear the way, many vehicles remained unmoved due to the massive traffic jam. The mother was forced to deliver the baby inside the vehicle.
A video clip in which a long traffic jam with people rushing to attend a fishing competition was also seen blocking the way of an ambulance without allowing it to make its way to a hospital.
