A mason from a remote Birbhum village had to fight for over six hours late on Saturday to get a vehicle to take his pregnant wife to the hospital.

Lockdown restrictions prevented ambulance and vehicle operators from easily agreeing to assist Apu Mondal, 35, and his wife Dipali who went into labour in the morning.

A police vehicle eventually rushed the duo from Asuria village in Birbhum’s Nalhati to Rampurhat, where Dipali gave birth to a boy early on Sunday. The couple named their son Agni (fire) for having been born despite hurdles.

Rampurhat is 40km from Nalhati.

“I had been trying to get a car since Saturday evening, when my wife complained labour pain, but no one agreed to take me. It took more than two hours, after which I dialled police out of helplessness,” said Apu.

“I had also dialed 102, which connected to Rampurhat hospital but was told that there was no driver available. Finally, I called a friend, who gave me the number to a police hotline,” he added.