A day after a heart from Kottarakkara native Isaac George was airlifted to Kochi’s Lisie Hospital to save an Angamaly youth, Kerala is witnessing another urgent transplant case—this time involving the Vande Bharat Express, India’s semi-high-speed train. A 13-year-old girl from Eroor in Kollam’s Anchal is travelling to Ernakulam for an emergency heart transplant at Lisie Hospital.

With airlifting not an option, her family boarded the 4.55 pm Vande Bharat Express from Kollam Railway Station to reach the hospital in time. The train reached Ernakulam South Railway Station at 7 pm. The girl was carried out of the station on her father’s shoulders. The waiting ambulance, escorted by police, rushed her to the hospital, which is 4 km away. The surgery will be performed today if doctors confirm the girl is fit to receive the heart of 18-year-old Biljith, who was declared brain dead after a road accident.

Earlier, when her family had inquired about the possibility of a heart transplant in various hospitals, including Lisie, they were told that they would be informed when a new heart was available for transplant. Reports suggest that the family was contacted by the hospital by noon today that a heart is ready for her. She was being treated at Thiruvananthapuram’s Sree Chitra Hospital. 

Why Vande Bharat?
Though the family tried to arrange an air ambulance, it wasn't reportedly available. That is when they contacted MP NK Premachandran and arranged tickets to Kochi on today's afternoon Vande Bharat train under the medical emergency quota. The train only has a stop in Alappuzha before reaching Ernakulam. 

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The 13-year-old is the daughter of a fish vendor in Kollam, and her mother is a homemaker.

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