COX’S BAZAR: The pregnant woman Zainab Begum took shelter at the Air Ali Khan High School shelter in Rajakhali union of Pekua upazila on Saturday night due to the severe cyclone Mocha in the Bay of Bengal.

A few hours after arriving at the shelter, she went into labour. No transport was available to take her to the hospital.

People at the shelter said that Zainab Begum went to the shelter around 9pm on Saturday. At about 1am, her labour started. No vehicle was available at that time. The OC of Pekua police station came to know the matter through various means. Then he took Zainab 12km away to Pekua Upazila Health Complex in his car.

Upazila Health Complex Resident Medical Officer Mujibur Rahman said that the mother and son were healthy. “The woman gave birth naturally,” he said.

Zainab’s husband Mohammad Arkan said: “My son has been nicknamed ‘Mocha’ after Cyclone Mocha.”

The baby was born at Pekua Upazila Health Complex on Sunday morning.

He also said, “On hearing about the birth of a boy, local parliament member Zafar Alam and local union council (UP) chairman Nazrul Islam Sikdar gave financial assistance. OC fed sweets to everyone in the shelter. He has brought clothes for my son.”