Hyderabad Metro Saves Life by Transporting Donor Heart in 13 Minutes
A heart was transported across Hyderabad in 13 minutes, thanks to a coordinated effort between Metro Rail and medical teams, saving a patient’s life.
image for illustrative purpose
A groundbreaking medical operation unfolded in Hyderabad as the city’s Metro Rail system played a pivotal role in saving a life. In a swift and efficient maneuver, a donor heart was transported over a distance of 13 kilometers in just 13 minutes. The heart was delivered to a 42-year-old cardiac patient at Gleneagles Global Hospital, who was facing a life-threatening condition.
The successful mission was the result of collaboration between L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad, local medical teams, and hospitals. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, the chief transplant surgeon at Gleneagles Global Hospital, praised the operation, calling it a significant advancement in the field of organ transport. "This is a major step forward in how we can use existing infrastructure to address critical medical needs," he remarked.
The operation, which required precise planning and real-time coordination, included several key features that ensured the heart’s rapid transport. These included complete signal clearance along the route, exclusive transit lanes dedicated solely to the mission, continuous communication between metro controllers and medical teams, and streamlined procedures to minimize delays.
During the mission, the metro train maintained an average speed of 60 km/h, with metro controllers providing priority passage through the city. NVS Reddy, Managing Director of L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad, highlighted the importance of infrastructure in saving lives, stating, "When every second matters, our infrastructure needs to be aligned with humanitarian goals."
This operation also draws attention to the critical issue of organ donation in India. While the country struggles with a low organ donation rate of approximately 0.65 per million people, compared to global averages of 25-30, the successful transport of the heart highlights the potential for technological solutions to address this challenge.
Recent figures from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) show that India performs about 5,000 kidney transplants annually and 1,200 heart transplants. However, 70 per cent of patients awaiting organ transplants do not survive long enough to receive one.
