Rly staff help woman deliver baby on train

Mysuru: Swift action by railway personnel ensured the safe delivery of a baby and timely medical assistance to a passenger on the Murdeshwar–SMVT Bengaluru Express (train no. 16586) Sunday.The train reached Bantawala station at 7.22pm when a pregnant passenger, Ponnamma, travelling in a general coach, was found in distress and bleeding heavily. Railway staff alerted medical services and began arrangements for an ambulance. Before the ambulance arrived, the woman delivered a premature baby boy inside the coach, authorities said.Train escort staff, including head constables Aruna SS (Hassan) and Shankaramurthy (Krishnarajanagar), assisted during the delivery. The mother and newborn were later shifted by ambulance to Somayaji Private Hospital in Bantawala. Both are stable, though the premature baby remains under observation.Speaking to TOI Mysuru, divisional railway manager Mudit Mittal said railway staff are trained to respond to medical emergencies by arranging immediate ambulance support and hospital transfers at the nearest station. He said the staff's alertness and preparedness ensured a safe delivery under challenging circumstances, and added that a group award would be recommended for the entire team involved, from the station master to on-duty personnel.