Bihar: Four women give birth to babies in railway hospitals, train coaches in 16 days

PATNA: Union railway minister Piyush Goyal on Friday urged people suffering from serious ailments, pregnant women, children and those above 65 years of age to travel by Shramik special trains “only when necessary”.

During the last 16 days, four women have delivered babies at different hospitals falling under the jurisdiction of the East Central Railway (ECR).

According to Danapur divisional railway manager (DRM) Sunil Kumar, 30-year-old Asha Kumari gave birth to a baby girl at the Sheikhpura sadar hospital on Thursday morning.

“The woman began having labour pains on Wednesday when the Shramik special train (04610) by which she was travelling passed through the Kiul-Gaya section of the Danapur division. Her family members dialled the helpline number 138 and the train was stopped at Sirari station. She was shifted to the hospital immediately,” Sunil told this newspaper on Friday.

Another woman, Minaz Khatoon, went into labour while travelling with her husband, Alam Ansari, from Surat to Sitamarhi by a Shramik special train on May 19.

The DRM said, “As soon as the train reached the Danapur station, a team of doctors and nurses helped the 27-year-old woman deliver a boy inside her coach.”

ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Rajesh Kumar recalled two similar incidents. “While returning to Bhagalpur from Mumbai with her husband, Mohammad Ashraf, Lily Khatoon (31) gave birth to a boy inside her train’s coach with the help of railway doctors and paramedical staff on May 13,” Rajesh said and added that the woman had labour pains at the Barauni Junction.

Similarly, 30-year-old Anita Devi, who was coming back to Motihari from Surat with her husband, went into labour when her train reached Samastipur on May 25. “Railway doctors rushed to the station and helped her deliver a baby girl,” the CPRO said.

Danapur’s senior divisional commercial manager Adhar Raj pointed out that a special cell had been set up to receive calls and provide medical assistance to passengers at the nearest station.