In a first-of-its-kind operation, a donor heart was successfully transported from Surat to Ahmedabad aboard the Vande Bharat Express through a specially created Green Corridor, helping save the life of a patient awaiting a heart transplant at U.N. Mehta Hospital.
The organ donation became possible after the family of a brain-dead patient at Surat Civil Hospital agreed to donate his organs. Following medical evaluation, doctors found the heart suitable for transplantation at Ahmedabad’s U.N. Mehta Hospital and immediately initiated arrangements for its transport.
First heart transport by Vande Bharat
While donor organs are usually transported by air to minimise travel time, authorities opted to use the Vande Bharat Express for the first time, considering the timing and logistical convenience. The heart was taken from Surat Civil Hospital to Surat Railway Station through a Green Corridor and carried to Ahmedabad under the supervision of a specialised medical team.
Seamless coordination ensured timely delivery
To ensure the train’s uninterrupted journey, green signals were provided throughout the Surat-Ahmedabad route. At Ahmedabad Railway Station, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), city police, railway authorities and the health department coordinated to create another Green Corridor. An ambulance, escort vehicle and medical team were stationed at Platform No. 1 before the train’s arrival.
As soon as the train reached the platform, passenger movement was briefly halted, allowing doctors to swiftly transfer the heart to the waiting ambulance. The organ was then rushed through the Green Corridor to U.N. Mehta Hospital, where the transplant procedure began without delay.
The successful operation marked a significant milestone in organ transportation in India, showcasing the donor family’s generosity and the coordinated efforts of the Railways, police and healthcare authorities.