Atul Sharma Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 3: In a heart-stirring incident that turned an ordinary train journey into a tale of courage and humanity, a woman gave birth to a baby onboard a train near Banihal Railway Station in Jammu Division on Wednesday. Thanks to the timely intervention of railway staff, passengers, and security forces, both mother and child were safely shifted to a hospital, narrowly escaping what could have been a medical emergency. The woman, identified as Akhtara Bano of Sumbar village, was travelling with her husband Mohammad Ashraf on train no. 64651, the unreserved Sangaldan–Baramulla service. As the train pulled into Banihal, she was gripped by severe labour pains. Within moments, and with the help of compassionate female co-passengers, she delivered her child inside the crowded coach. Alert passengers immediately informed the station staff. Acting swiftly, Station Manager A.B. Bali, along with employees Lalit Kumar, Mudassir Ahmed, and Manzoor Ahmed, rushed to the scene. With support from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), they carried the newborn and mother to the nearest hospital for urgent medical care. The family expressed heartfelt gratitude to the railway staff, who they said “appeared like angels in the moment of crisis.” Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Jammu Division, Uchit Singhal, and Area Manager of Kashmir Valley, Saqib Yusuf, lauded the swift action, calling it “a shining example of humanity, teamwork, and coordination between railway staff and passengers.” What began as an ordinary journey in a daily passenger train became an unforgettable story of life, compassion, and solidarity—a reminder that miracles sometimes arrive in the most unexpected places. |