'Heartbeat of hope': Vande Bharat transports live donor heart 250 km in 2 hours to save a life

A live donor heart was transported 250 km from Surat to Ahmedabad in about 2 hours 30 minutes using a green corridor and the Vande Bharat Express, the first such train transport in India.

The heart was carried on the Vande Bharat Express from Surat to Ahmedabad, then via a green corridor created by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Gujarat Police to the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre.

The transplant was successful, according to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, giving the recipient patient a new lease of life.

The operation was coordinated by Indian Railways, RPF, Gujarat Police, and medical teams, with the Railways calling it a 'heartbeat of hope' delivered on time.