Filipina on way to Manila from Dubai develops labour pain, gets timely aid

Hyderabad: In a humanitarian gesture, the Telangana Tourism department will help a Filipino woman conduct the funeral of her baby at the Trimulgherry Cemetery. The baby had died soon after birth. The woman, Ms Grace Alexandria (40), works as a nurse in Dubai. She was pregnant and was on her way to Manila from Dubai on an Emirates flight last week.

On the flight Ms Alexandria, who was 28-week pregnant, developed labour pains and gave premature birth to a baby whose condition was critical. The flight made an emergency landing at Shamshabad airport and she and her baby were admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, for treatment. However, the baby died three days ago.

As she faced problems travelling to her home country with the dead body, she approached some churches in the city to conduct the funeral but was told that only those with memberships in respective churches were allowed to do so.

After coming to know about the incident, principal secretary of tourism Mr Burra Venkatesham visited the woman in hospital on Monday and offered all possible assistance from the Telangana government.

He made arrangements for the funeral on Tuesday at the Trimulgherry Cemetery. The hospital too agreed to reduce the bill on the request of Mr Venkatesham. He also offered to bear the ticket cost and other expenses of the woman on behalf of the Tourism department.