Vande Bharat carries donor heart to Ahmedabad, saves life in 1st-of-its-kind mission

A donor heart was rushed from Surat to Ahmedabad on a Vande Bharat Express and transplanted at UN Mehta Institute. The operation highlighted rare coordination between Railways, police and doctors in a race against time.A donor heart was rushed from Surat to Ahmedabad on a Vande Bharat Express.A live donor heart was transported on a Vande Bharat Express from Surat to Ahmedabad on Friday and later transplanted into a patient at the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, in a time-bound operation involving the Railways, police and medical teams.The heart was carried on Train No. 20901 Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express over the roughly 250-km distance. A special green corridor was then created from Ahmedabad railway station to the hospital to ensure the organ reached there quickly so the transplant could begin on time.Divisional Railway Manager of Ahmedabad Ved Prakash called it a moment of pride and satisfaction for Indian Railways. In a post on X, he said, "Indian Railways Makes History! For the first time, the 20901 Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express successfully transported a live heart from Surat to Ahmedabad."According to an official release, the "highly sensitive and time-bound life-saving operation" was made possible through close coordination and quick action by the Railways, Gujarat Police, the Railway Protection Force and medical teams. It said a special green corridor was prepared by the RPF and Gujarat Police to move the heart from Platform No. 1 at Ahmedabad station to the UN Mehta Institute "in a fast and unhindered manner". The release said the heart was delivered to the hospital within the stipulated time frame so that the transplant process could start on time. The release said the speed, punctuality and reliability of the Vande Bharat Express contributed significantly to the success of the mission. It added that the operation showed Indian Railways was not limited to carrying passengers and goods, but was also playing an important role in emergency and life-saving health services when needed.Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel described the effort as a unique example of service and congratulated all those involved. In a post on X, he said, "A unique example of service! Every second counts in organ transplantation! It was only because the live heart was transported from Surat to Ahmedabad in a matter of hours at the high speed of the Vande Bharat Express that this life-saving effort became possible." He added, "Through this unprecedented coordination of Indian Railways, RPF, Gujarat Police, and our medical teams, a successful heart transplant was completed at the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad, giving new life to an individual." Patel also congratulated the hospital's doctors and medical staff for carrying out 77 successful heart transplants at the facility so far.The operation involved transporting a live donor heart by train from Surat to Ahmedabad, moving it swiftly to the hospital through a green corridor, and completing the transplant in time through coordinated action by the Railways, police and medical teams.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 31, 2026 23:17 IST