Cuttack: A pair of newborn twins delivered under emergency conditions aboard the Rourkela–Gunupur Rajya Rani Express died at a hospital in Cuttack on Monday morning.
The infants were born to Swetadipa Mallik, who went into labour while travelling in the general compartment of the train with her husband, Sujit Mallik, on Sunday (June 21). The couple was returning to their native village in Bhadrak district after a medical consultation and ultrasound in Rourkela. Family members said the expected date of delivery was in the third week of September.
According to railway officials, the woman delivered her first baby, a girl, on board the moving train before it arrived at Cuttack railway station at 6:53 am. Upon receiving information about the medical emergency, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and railway staff rushed to Platform No. 3 to assist the passenger.
The RPF later discovered that the woman was carrying twins and was likely to deliver the second child. As labour continued, emergency arrangements were made on the platform. A section was cordoned off to ensure privacy, while announcements were made over the public address system seeking medical assistance from passengers.
A pharmacist travelling on the same train responded and provided first aid to the mother and newborn. The mother and her first child were subsequently shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in an ambulance with assistance from RPF and railway staff.
Despite medical efforts, both newborns could not survive. One infant was declared dead after being shifted for treatment. The second newborn, who was later transferred to a private hospital in the Bajrakabati area due to limited facilities, was declared critical but died around 9 am on Monday.
