Pregnant Woman Missing for 10 Days Delivers Healthy Baby in Tamil Nadu
Chennai: A 25-year-old pregnant woman from Solagar Dhoddi in the Thalavadi Hills, who had gone missing earlier this month, safely delivered a healthy baby boy at the District Government Hospital in Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, early Saturday morning.
The woman, identified as Shevanthi, experienced labour pain around 10 p.m. on Friday and was first taken to the Government Upgraded Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Thalavadi. Due to concerns about potential complications and the baby’s estimated weight of 3 kg, she was referred to Chamarajanagar Government Hospital.
Accompanied by three health department staff members, Shevanthi was transported to Chamarajanagar, where she underwent a normal delivery at 12:05 a.m. on Saturday. Health officials confirmed that both mother and child are in good condition and are expected to be discharged in the next three days, depending on their recovery.
Shevanthi’s case drew attention when she went missing from her home in early July, refusing hospital admission despite being due for delivery on July 7. It was later revealed that she had gone to a relative’s house in Karnataka. She underwent a medical scan at Chamarajanagar, where doctors revised her expected delivery date to July 27.
During this period, her family lost contact with her and filed a missing person complaint with the local police. She eventually returned home after counselling, particularly by S. Kannaiyan, president of the Thalavadi Farmers’ Foundation.
On July 18, Shevanthi was brought to Thalavadi hospital for a routine check-up. Although doctors advised her to be admitted immediately, she chose to return home and come back only once labour began.
Chamarajanagar, located 23 km from Thalavadi, is commonly used as the referral hospital for maternity cases in the region due to its better accessibility. In contrast, the Sathyamangalam Government Hospital, 58 km away, is less preferred due to its difficult access route via the Dhimbam Ghat Road, which includes 27 hairpin bends within the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.
Authorities have since reiterated the importance of regular antenatal care and timely cooperation with health professionals to ensure safe outcomes for both mothers and babies.
(With inputs from IANS)
Jyoti Kumari joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Journalism Intern. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. She is passionate about news reporting, content creation, social media, and emerging media trends.