North Lakhimpur, Oct. 7 -- A woman gave birth to a child while being taken to a hospital in a commercial pickup van early Wednesday morning in the riverine Lohit Khabolu area along Assam's Lakhimpur-Majuli boundary.

The woman, a resident of Jugibari village under Lohit Khabolu Gaon Panchayat, was being taken to Sri Sri Pitambar Deva Goswami District Hospital at Garmur in Majuli after she went into labour.

The hospital is around 20 kilometres from Jugibari village. However, poor road connectivity in the riverine area has made it difficult for ambulances and other emergency medical services to reach the village.

The woman, identified as the wife of Manoj Pegu of Jugibari village, was therefore taken to the hospital in a commercial pickup...