Extreme climate turns personal as woman gives birth on a boat in an Indian monsoon

By Anupam Nath

An AP photographer had a rare opportunity to document the harrowing experience of a family displaced by extreme weather in the most personal of circumstances.

Photographer Anupam Nath realized he was about to witness something extraordinary: a baby’s delivery on a boat rushing a family to a medical center. Covering the effects of climate change, he was on a routine embed with a medical team attending residents displaced from their homes on islands flooded by a swollen river.

Nath reached out to Yirmiyan Arthur, Asia-Pacific deputy news director for photography and storytelling, to quickly explain and brainstorm how he would balance coverage for all formats and sent her a quick cell phone picture to help set the scene. Nath’s presence of mind throughout the event led to the chronicling of what he called “one of the most emotional moments of my life.”

Arthur knew this had the potential to be a strong, character-driven story and planned to create a special online presentation that included a video and video loop that helped convey the high anxiety and pressure the family and the medical team were under.  

While it was initially a hopeful story amid a natural disaster, the worst possible news came days later when Nath learned that the baby had serious health complications and was not expected to survive. Doctors told them the family it was only a matter of time, so they decided to leave the hospital and take their baby home.

For being a visually led, character-driven story that puts a face on the real-life effects of extreme climate, Anupam Nath’s story earns this week’s Best of AP — First Winner.

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