A '3 Idiots'-style delivery, a Mumbai local train shows humanity, raising questions about the railway system

A late-night example of humanity was witnessed on a local train, but the railway system also raised some questions. At the Western Railway's Ram Mandir station, a pregnant woman suddenly went into labor. A passenger and a doctor performed the delivery, saving the woman and her baby's life.

Mumbai: An example of humanity was seen late night in a local train, but some questions were also raised on the railway system. A pregnant woman suddenly got labour pain at the Ram Mandir station of Western Railway. Then a passenger and a doctor saved the life of the newborn and the woman by delivering the baby. Seeing all this, it seemed as if a scene from the Aamir Khan starrer movie '3 Idiots' was being repeated.

According to the information received, Vikas Bhandari, a resident of Goregaon (East), was travelling in Churchgate local from Goregaon at 12:40 pm to Ahmedabad. On reaching Ram Mandir, he saw that a woman was screaming in pain in his compartment. He pulled the emergency chain and got the woman down.

Medical assistance was not available at the station.
After waiting for 20 minutes at the station, no medical assistance was available. Realizing the severity of the situation, they made a video call to Dr. Devika Deshmukh of Vile Parle at 1:30 a.m. Under the doctor's guidance, the delivery was conducted at the station itself, and the mother and newborn are safe. The woman was admitted to Cooper Hospital after the delivery.

On the day this incident occurred, I was celebrating my daughter's birthday. I received a call from Vikas, and I was able to do this noble deed. The credit goes to Vikas.

Dr. Devika Deshmukh

Following this incident, numerous questions are being raised about the railway's medical facilities
Had the passenger and the doctor not considered the severity of the situation, the railway's delay could have cost someone's life. Such an incident on the Mumbai local train, considered the lifeline of millions of passengers, raises serious questions about the railway's medical facilities.

Giving birth was a unique experience. It would have been better if emergency services were available at the station. The staff there helped us. An ambulance would have been more efficient. Thankfully, both the baby and the mother are safe. I believe that we should never abandon humanity under any circumstances.

Vikas Bendre, traveller

There is no space for a medical room at Ram Mandir station.
RTI activist Sameer Javeri said that despite the court order to provide emergency medical facilities on the platforms, this facility is available only at 3 out of 98 stations of Central Railway and at 16 out of 35 stations of Western Railway. This poses a threat to the health of lakhs of local passengers. When I spoke to Simmi Gupta, Chief Medical Superintendent of Western Railway, about the lack of medical facilities at Ram Mandir station, she said that there is no space available to set up a medical room at Ram Mandir station. However, she said that efforts will be made to provide this facility soon.

According to a court order, every station on the Mumbai Suburban Railway must have a 24-hour emergency medical room with a doctor. The railway administration's failure to comply with this order constitutes contempt of court.

Sameer Javeri, RTI activist

A railway official stated that 300 square feet of space is required to set up an emergency medical room. Currently, this much space is not available at Ram Mandir station. Discussions are underway with senior officials regarding this matter. Efforts are underway to provide similar facilities at other stations, including Churchgate station.

Station Emergency Medical Facilities
Western Railway Suburban - 17
Tenders - Churchgate Station
Central Railway - 3