Panic gripped the general compartment of the Howrah to Secunderabad Falaknuma Superfast Express when a pregnant woman suddenly went into intense labour. As her cries echoed through the crowded coach, concerned co-passengers looked on anxiously, hoping the train would reach medical assistance in time. However, the next scheduled stop was Cuttack, and the train was still a considerable distance away from the station.
Passengers Create Makeshift Partition Using Bedrolls
The critical situation was quickly brought to the notice of the on-board Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and train staff. The railway team immediately initiated efforts to check whether any doctor or passenger with medical experience was travelling on the train. Concurrently, emergency alerts were dispatched to railway authorities at Cuttack station to prepare for an urgent intervention. Inside the coach, fellow travelers stepped forward in solidarity. Passengers vacated an entire berth without hesitation, while women passengers took charge by hanging bedsheets to form a private enclosure for the mother.
Birth in Moving Coach Ends Safely
With Cuttack station still far away, the woman's contractions intensified rapidly. In the absence of an immediate hospital setup, the birth took place right inside the moving railway coach. Fortunately, both the mother and her newborn survived the delivery without immediate complications. While the successful childbirth brought collective relief to everyone inside the compartment, the immediate priority remained getting both under professional clinical care as quickly as possible.
RPF Women Personnel Lead Ground Operation at Cuttack
Meanwhile, railway authorities at Cuttack railway station made comprehensive arrangements to handle the medical emergency before the train pulled in. The moment the Falaknuma Express arrived at the platform, two women RPF constables boarded the general compartment. Taking care of the mother and child with dedicated attention, they ensured the newborn was safely bundled and the mother was transferred onto a stretcher to be carried out of the carriage.
Shifted to SCB Medical College for Postnatal Care
An ambulance stationed outside the platform was kept ready with the engine running. The women constables assisted in wheeling the patient directly to the emergency vehicle. Railway administration promptly admitted both mother and newborn to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where specialized medical staff took charge of their ongoing health monitoring and postnatal recovery.
