Daijiworld Media Network – Yadgiri (EP)

Yadgiri, Aug 1: In a brave effort, a heavily pregnant woman swam in the floods of Krishna river so that she could safely deliver her baby.

The village of Neelakantarayanagadde is surrounded by floods from Krishna river and in case she had remained where she was, her delivery would have caused problems. Like other villagers, she was completely cut off from the town, and neither could any doctor go to her. And all the while, the floods kept increasing, make things more difficult by the minute.

In such a sitution, while experienced swimmers were hesitating to step into the water, the brave woman, nine months into pregnancy, swam for 600 meters and safely reached the shore.

The woman who swam for safe delivery is Yallavva Gaddi, a resident of Surapura taluk in Yadgiri district which is flooded at the moment.

As the excess water from the Basava Sagar dam has let out into the river, people of Neelakantarayanagadde have lost contact with the outside world. As there is no facility for them to cross the river, they have to swim for about 600 meters to reach the mainland. Under such circumstances, Yellavva Gaddi along with members of her family swam on Wednesday July 30 and reached her relative's house in another village.

As there are no medical facilities in Nadugudde, going into labour may be risky and hence she had to go to town for a safe delivery. She tied tender coconut shells around her, swam and reached the shore. Without doubt, Yellavva's bravely deserves to be applauded, for she not only saved her own life, but even of her unborn baby. At the time, it is a telling example of the failure of the administration to rescue or at least provide emergency services to people hit by floods.