Bhubaneswar/Surat: As described by the Indian Railways, the country witnessed its first ‘heartbeat of hope, delivered on time,’ thanks to Vande Bharat. It’s a final act of kindness by 36-year-old textile mill worker from Odisha’s Ganjam. He became the first deceased organ donor in the country, whose heart was transported through Vande Bharat express for a timely life-saving transplant.
The worker, Mithun Swain, from Kalakhandi village used to work in Surat. His arms and legs stopped functioning on July 28, when he was rushed to a hospital. From the private hospital, he was shifted to a government hospital, where he was declared brain dead on July 30. His family agreed to donate his heart, liver and kidneys.
The kidneys were donated to Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre, while the heart was sent to UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre — both in Amhedabad, reported TOI.
Due to bad weather, road and air transport was not possible. But aboard Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express, the heart travelled from Surat to Ahmedabad in about 2 hours only.