HIGHLIGHTS
- A record flood event added an extra challenge for Mamata Pun Rana who went into labour as the floodwaters were rising in regional NSW.
- Emergency services successfully transported Mamata to hospital to give birth.
- The maternity team at Forbes Hospital say "mum and bub are doing well" after the procedure.
New parents Chitra and Mamata Pun Rana are celebrating the birth of their baby boy Imaan, who was born during a record flood event in the NSW regional town of Forbes.
Mamata Pun Rana went into labour on Friday evening as the floodwaters were rising to unprecedented levels, with off-duty midwife Judi making the assessment the birth needed to happen in hospital.
But getting to the hospital would prove challenging with the Lachlan River forecast to rise to 10.8 metres on Friday night - a level unseen in 70 years.
State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers used a specialist vehicle to safely transport the parents to hospital - one of 10 flood rescues carried out in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.
"The water was too deep and dangerous for private vehicles so the only way for us to access this patient was via use of our high clearance vehicles," Ryan Jones from the Forbes SES unit said.
He said it was the first time in 17 years with the SES that he had rescued someone who had gone into labour.
"It was a really nice and rewarding job to be involved in, to be able to put her mind at ease and make a tangible difference was very special."
Imaan is "now enjoying plenty of cuddles" from his parents after an eventful 24 hours. Source: Supplied / Western NSW Local Health District
The maternity team said everyone involved felt elated with the successful birth.
"Little Imaan came into the world this afternoon, much to the delight of both his parents and the hospital staff who supported the couple throughout the birth. We're pleased to confirm mum and bub are doing well," a NSW Health spokesperson said.
"Congratulations to Mamata and Chitra, who are over the moon and now enjoying plenty of cuddles with little Imaan, who is blissfully unaware of the incredible circumstances surrounding his delivery."
Flood waters have cut off the northern areas of Forbes from the town's centre and southern region. Earlier, more than 1,000 residents across 500 homes were evacuated.
Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said this time the predictions of the severity of the flood were spot on, but it still was devastating to see the damage.
"It is a very serious flood situation. I think we have all been taken by surprise," she told SBS News.
"When I went up the helicopter - I have seen a lot of floods, but never anything as big as this. And it was quite disturbing to see some cattle and some sheep that are caught."
She said farmers have been hard hit, with part of the area in flood for four months already before this latest flood event struck.
Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said the flood damage has been extensive and she is concerned about the cost of recovery and rebuilding. She said she is proud of the way the community has "pulled together" and shown their resilience. Source: Facebook / NSW SES
"But now we also have the inundation of all the homes and some of the businesses in Forbes."
Emergency officials said around 20,000 people in the central west NSW region could be left without gas for a month, after flood damage to a pipeline.
Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said the flood impacts remain for several communities, even as the weather conditions improve.
"While we are experiencing a reprieve in the weather and, in fact, it's lovely to see some blue skies, the risk has not abated in relation to the amount of water in our river systems, passing through our communities and impacting on our lives," she said.
The major regional NSW centre of Forbes is experiencing a blue-sky flood at levels not seen for 70 years as rivers across the state burst their banks. Source: AAP / Craig Dwyer
"At the moment we are under a blue sky flood. So the reality is that people don't think in their minds that there is an issue here, but we do have rising floodwaters," NSW SES Chief Superintendent Ken Murphy told SBS News.
"And this will continue broadly across this whole area for a number of weeks - as the water transitions down the river systems."
He said the river started rising from 3.30am and the calls for help have not stopped. About 200 calls were received in a 24-hour period until Saturday morning.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said 50 Australian Defence Force personnel are being deployed in Forbes, adding that about 200 troops will help flood-hit communities across the state.
