Amid Cyclone Dana’s impending landfall, Digha State General Hospital welcomed two new lives. Two pregnant women, safely evacuated from their homes, gave birth to a baby boy and a baby girl each.
One of the new fathers, Shibu Das, expressed his relief and gratitude. “My wife, Sushmita, was due on October 22. As the cyclone approached, our anxiety grew. Thankfully, the state administration was prepared. An ASHA worker evacuated her in an ambulance, and she was brought here just in time,” he told The Indian Express.
Sushmita delivered a healthy baby girl. Overjoyed, Shibu decided to name her “Brishti,” meaning “rain.” He explained, “It was raining heavily the night she was born. I wanted to remember that special moment forever.” Das is a resident of Padima 2, a flood and cyclone-prone area of Purba Medinipur district. She was brought to the hospital on October 24, the day of her child’s birth.
“Her full name will be Priyanka, but we’ll call her Brishti. It rhymes with her cousin’s name, Misti,” Shibu smiled.
Remembering how his area was flooded during 2020’s Cyclone Amphan, he praised the district administration for their efforts in ensuring safe deliveries during such a challenging time. While he expressed some “concerns” about the behavior of consulting doctors, he acknowledged the overall care and support provided by the hospital staff.
“Seven pregnant women were evacuated and brought to the hospital. Two of them have safely delivered. The rest are admitted at the Digha State General Hospital,” said BDO Ramnagar Puja Debnath.
Like Sushmita, 36-year-old Rama Bera also gave birth on October 24, hours after she was brought to hospital. “I am happy that I have a healthy baby… I was very much in tension since the day the weather office alerted us about Cyclone Dana,” said Bera.
Her husband Laltu Bera is yet to decide on his son’s name. He recalled how during Amphan he had to send his father, who is paralyzed, to someone else’s house after his home was inundated. “We were waiting for a normal delivery… Suddenly, there was a cyclone alert. Thankfully, my wife was safely brought to hospital,” said the resident of Vishwanathpur, Ramnagar 1 Block.