SALEM, Tamil Nadu: A pregnant woman was allegedly asked to pay a bribe for treatment at a government hospital here today, and unable to pay it, she was forced to deliver the baby at a bus stand .

The 24-year-old woman, a labourer hailing from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, had come to the hospital with her husband and two children, aged five and two years, after she experienced labour pains this morning, but some nursing staff allegedly demanded Rs 1000 for her delivery, Dr Vallinayagam , Hospital dean said.

The woman was reportedly forced to go out of the ward when she could not pay the money and when she reached the Salem old bus-stand, walking for about a kilometre from the hospital, she delivered the baby boy, dean said, adding two women passers-by assisted her.

Locals immediately called an ambulance and rushed her to the same government hospital where the matter was reported to me, he said.

Vallinayagam said a three team headed by him would conduct an inquiry tomorrow and if the incident was found true, the hospital staff concerned would be suspended.

