Mumbai, August 26: Niloufer Shaikh had the GRP to thank for her baby girl’s delivery at a platform on Ghatkopar station early on Wednesday.
A pregnant Niloufer was travelling in the ladies compartment when she experienced labour pain and pleaded with an on-duty constable, escorting the coach, for help. Police immediately dialled the GRP helpline and ensured that medical aid was ready for Niloufer when she alighted at Ghatkopar. Eventually, she delivered a baby in the conservancy workers’ room as there wasn’t enough time to reach the hospital. “The mother and child are fine. After the girl was delivered, Niloufer was taken to the Rajawadi Hospital by our staff,” a GRP official said.
Niloufer (23) and her husband, Firoz (30), are residents of Thane. Firoz works as a painter. The couple was aboard a CST-bound local around 5 am on Wednesday. “We were headed for JJ Hospital. I couldn’t have left Niloufer on her on in this condition. We were in the 24-hour ladies compartment near the motorman’s cabin. We were headed to JJ Hospital and I was fraught with worry
She complained of labour pain in the running local as we had crossed Vikhroli station. I could not think of any way to help her,” Firoz told TOI.
Niloufer then called out to a GRP constable who was escorting the coach. The constable dialled the helpline (9833331111) and arranged for a stretcher, attendant and two coolies at Ghatkopar station. Helpline personnel also informed the station master who arranged for medical aid for Niloufer.
“There was no time to travel to the hospital. Conservancy staff on the station came to our rescue and Niloufer was taken to their room on the platform. With the help of female police personnel, Niloufer delivered on the station premises itself,” Firoz said.
“We quickly arranged for a private ambulance to take Niloufer and the child to the Rajawadi Hospital after her delivery,” said helpline in-charge Prakash Jadhav. Firoz said his wife is now waiting to get home and think of a name for their bundle of joy.
–Agencies