Indian Army doctor’s heroic act: A baby delivered with a hair clip and pocket knife at railway station

In a moment that restored faith in humanity and duty, a young army doctor performed an emergency delivery on the platform of Jhansi railway station, using nothing but a hair clip and a pocket knife to bring a baby girl safely into the world.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when a pregnant woman travelling on the Panvel-Gorakhpur Express went into sudden labour. As her condition worsened, railway staff swiftly deboarded her at Jhansi station. It was here that fate intervened in the form of Major Dr Rohit Bachwala, a 31-year-old medical officer with the Army Medical Corps, who was waiting for his train to Hyderabad.

Witnessing the commotion as a female ticket-checking staff member rushed the woman in distress on a wheelchair, Major Bachwala stepped in without a second thought. “There was no time. The mother was in severe pain, and both lives were at risk. We had to act immediately,” he said later.

A Delivery With Hair Clip & Pocket Knife

With no medical equipment or sterile environment available, the doctor improvised. He borrowed a hair clip to clamp the umbilical cord and used his pocket knife to cut it after ensuring the newborn’s vitals were stable. “We created a makeshift delivery area near the lift using available resources. Basic hygiene was maintained as best as we could. It felt like divine intervention that I was present at that moment,” he recalled.

Onlookers watched in awe as the young officer calmly navigated the high-pressure situation. Moments later, cries of a newborn echoed across the platform, bringing tears to the eyes of many bystanders.

Thanks to his swift action and the support of railway staff, both the mother and her baby were shifted to a local hospital, where doctors confirmed they were in stable condition.

Incredibly, after ensuring the mother and child were safe, Major Bachwala quietly boarded his train and resumed his journey. “As doctors, we are taught to be ready for emergencies at any time, in any place. I am grateful I could help,” he said modestly.

This extraordinary act of courage and compassion has since drawn widespread admiration, with many calling it a shining example of duty beyond call and the spirit of service that defines India’s armed forces.