Berhampur: With Ganjam bracing for the landfall of the Bay of Bengal depression, the district administration has shifted more than 274 pregnant women to hospitals and Maa Gruhas (maternity waiting homes) as a precautionary measure amid heavy to very heavy rainfall.Of those relocated, 120 women had safely delivered babies by Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Both mothers and newborns were reported to be in stable condition, with no maternal or infant deaths reported.The evacuation of expectant mothers began on Tuesday, with ASHA workers transporting them from vulnerable and remote areas to nearby healthcare facilities. The exercise is continuing as the IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in the district till Thursday.“The district administration has accorded top priority to shifting pregnant women to hospitals and has issued necessary directions to health officials,” said a health department official.Officials said the precautionary measure was aimed at ensuring safe institutional deliveries, as swollen rivers, waterlogged roads and disrupted transport links could make it difficult for pregnant women to access medical facilities during intense rain.District collector Keerthi Vasan V has directed health authorities to identify and relocate all expectant mothers in areas likely to be affected by the weather system.In neighbouring Gajapati district, over 80 pregnant women have also been shifted to nearby hospitals and Maa Gruhas as a precaution. Officials, however, were yet to provide details on the number of deliveries recorded there.Proactive measures form part of the state govt’s broader preparedness plan to minimise risks to vulnerable groups as the depression approaches the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast.hrusikeshm@gmail.com