Keonjhar: A woman who delivered a baby girl at home was forced to walk nearly 3 km carrying her newborn to reach an ambulance after the vehicle failed to access her Kumundi village due to the absence of a motorable road in Keonjhar district’s Banspal block.After Bilash Munda developed labour pains on Tuesday evening, her family called an ambulance, but the vehicle could not reach her hamlet Desabandha Sahi under Kumundi village. Before medical help could arrive, she delivered a baby girl at home.When the ambulance reached the area on Wednesday morning, it had to stop nearly 3 km from the village due to the lack of road connectivity. Left with no alternative, Bilash, accompanied by an Asha and family members, walked the entire stretch carrying her newborn to reach the ambulance, which later took her to a healthcare facility.Chief district medical officer Dhaneswar Sethi said the health department was providing ambulance services, but the lack of road connectivity prevented vehicles from reaching certain habitations. “I will discuss such issues with officials of community health centres so that they can take up these developmental concerns with the block authorities,” he said.Villagers said the route to the hamlet is narrow and difficult, posing a risk to pregnant women, elderly residents and patients, especially during the monsoon.Around 40 tribal and Munda families live in Desabandha Sahi. Residents alleged that despite repeated appeals to the administration, no proper road has been constructed, leaving them cut off from essential services, including emergency healthcare.“Even after nearly eight decades of Independence, several tribal habitations in Keonjhar lack all-weather roads and basic amenities. Successive govts have failed to address their concerns,” said tribal leader Binod Naik, who had contested the last Lok Sabha election.Asha Mama Lianggi said whenever someone falls ill or a woman goes into labour, they face the same problem.Husband Baisagu Munda said residents had repeatedly demanded a road. “We had to walk through mud for nearly 3 km with the mother and newborn. We face such hardships every day,” he said.