LUCKNOW, Jul 6: In a remarkable act of quick thinking and courage, Major Rohit Bachwala of the Indian Army helped deliver a baby using a pocket knife, hair clips, and a dhoti at the Virangana Laxmibai Jhansi railway station on Saturday afternoon.
Major Bachwala, 31, posted at Jhansi Military Hospital, was en route to Hyderabad on leave when he noticed a pregnant woman in distress on a footover bridge. Without hesitation, he rushed to assist and performed the emergency delivery with limited resources. Railway women staff secured the area, ensured privacy, and provided gloves to aid the makeshift procedure.
The woman, Ashwarfalak Quershi, was traveling with her husband and child from Panvel to Barabanki on train number 15066, Panvel-Gorakhpur Express. After an SOS was sent via the Rail Madad app, the family was deboarded at Jhansi, where the emergency unfolded.
According to a statement by North Central Railway’s Jhansi division, a medical team was mobilized in response, but the delivery occurred before formal assistance could arrive. Quershi’s husband expressed deep gratitude to Major Rohit and the railway staff for their timely help.
A touching gesture followed the delivery as Lili Kushwaha, a chief ticketing examiner who assisted earlier, visited the family at the hospital, bringing food and clothes for the newborn.
Major Bachwala, originally from Hyderabad and the son of a retired IAF skydiving instructor, is the second in his family to serve in the armed forces. His heroic act has since drawn praise from both officials and citizens across the region. (Agencies)
