Srinagar, Sep 3: A woman passenger from Ramban district delivered a baby boy onboard a train travelling from Sumbar to Banihal on Wednesday, officials said.
The passenger, identified as Akhtara Bano of Sumbar village, went into labour during the journey. On being informed, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel present in the coach immediately extended assistance with the help of other passengers.
The woman delivered a baby before the train reached Banihal station. Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, told Rising Kashmir that railway staff at Banihal Railway Station rushed the mother and her newborn baby to a local hospital after the delivery on the train near Banihal station.
“The woman passenger’s husband was also accompanying her during the journey. The couple are residents of Sumbar village. The family was travelling on train no. 64651, an unreserved daily train running between Sangaldan and Baramulla in Kashmir,” he said.
As soon as the train reached Banihal, the woman experienced severe labour pain. She delivered the baby in the train itself with the help of female co-passengers, who immediately informed the station master. On receiving the information, Banihal Station Manager AB Bali and other railway employees, including Lalit Kumar, Mudassir Ahmed, and Manzoor Ahmed, arranged to take the mother and child to the nearest hospital for treatment.
RPF and GRP staff were also present on the train and at the station during this time. The family later thanked the railway employees for their swift response. Railway Area Manager of Kashmir Valley, Saqib Yusuf, praised the promptness and humanity of the passengers and railway employees who assisted during the incident.
“They said this incident is an excellent example of coordination between employees and passengers, which played an important role in saving a life,” he added.
