30 bundles of joy on board Shramik Special trains since May 1

Thirty children were born on board the Shramik Special trains since the start of May, providing some of the migrant workers a tinge of joy amid all the odds they faced in their bid to reach home during the coronavirus lockdown.

Be it 23-year-old Sangeeta or 27-year-old Madhu, who were stranded, often without food, water or any resources that pregnancy demands, for almost two months, boarding the migrant special trains would have been a sigh of relief.

Perhaps, it would be that moment when their babies decided it was safe to come into this world.

Last Monday, nine-month pregnant Sangeeta boarded a Shramik Special train from Bangalore for her hometown in Uttar Pradesh. On board, she delivered a healthy baby boy with the help of her co-passengers.

Soon after, she was provided with medicines and, when she reached, a team of doctors awaited her with supplies. The Bangaluru police even shared a photo of the baby sent to them by the couple.

On Friday, 27-year-old Madhu Kumari delivered a baby during her journey home to Uttar Pradesh. When she went into labour, the railway staff present in the train informed the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

The baby was born before the train reached the Jhansi railway station. The woman got medical attention at the station.

"We are keenly aware that our staff at times need to act as the situation demands and they do so," Railways spokesperson R D Bajpai said. "We are proud to say that all the babies born on these trains are healthy and their mothers are doing well. We are very happy that we could help them."