A group of seven women with no medical knowledge in Karnataka's Haveri district have helped a woman deliver a baby boy in an emergency situation, guided by a doctor on video call.

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"Seven of us helped our neighbour deliver a baby boy successfully, guided by gynaecologist Priyanka Mantagi," a woman from Hangal village, 370 km northwest of Bengaluru, told IANS. On July 26, she was going to the washroom when she unexpectedly went into labour and her foetus had already come out a little by then. As a complete lockdown was being observed across the state, the nearest government hospital was not accessible as an ambulance was not readily available, creating an emergency situation. "At this juncture, we gathered together and were deciding what to do when one of our sisters remembered her childhood friend, currently pursuing MD in gynaecology in KIMS Hubli, and we contacted her," said the woman.

Fortunately, she was available when she was contacted though she has been extremely busy discharging COVID duties. "She suggested that she would make a video call and guide us through the process for a safe delivery, resulting in the birth of the baby boy," said an elated woman. Following the gynaecologist's directions, the women managed the delivery. After the procedure, the ambulance arrived to take the mother and baby to a hospital.