45-day-old boy of Kolkata couple dies in train for ‘lack of medical aid’, buried in UP – Times of India

Kolkata News

MEERUT: A 45-day-old baby boy, being taken to his home in Kolkata from Ambala by his mother for the first time, fell sick and died in a train for want of medical help on Friday and was buried in Najibabad in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh.
His mother, two minor sisters and grandmother had boarded the Sealdah Express on Thursday night. After the burial, railway officials provided them food and tickets for their onward journey to West Bengal.
The baby’s father, Chandan Mishra from Garia (in Kolkata), had a video call with his wife, Ritu, at 11 pm on Thursday and it was the last time he saw his newborn son — yet to be named — waving his hand and smiling.
On Friday at 6 am, he got a call from Ritu saying the baby is crying and has high fever and that she had asked for a doctor on the railway emergency toll-free number. At 8:30 am, Chandan was informed that his son was no more.
“I haven’t taken him in my arms. He was born at his aunt’s place in Ambala. My wife was bringing him home for the first time. My heart goes out for my son, who was buried in a far-away place where I can’t even go now to offer flowers on his grave,” said Chandan, who drives a van for livelihood, over phone.
Ritu is inconsolable. She starts crying every time she sees the blanket and clothes of her baby. The newborn was the fourth child of the couple, married for 11 years. Their first was a stillborn.
“My wife told me that she had dialled the helpline and asked for a doctor, but no help came even as the train ran for over 100 km and crossed several major stations. At Najibabad, a private doctor came and declared the baby dead,” said a wailing Chandan.
Chandan said his son would have survived had medical help arrived on time. “My son was fine when my wife boarded the train. The baby must have fallen sick due to the commotion inside the coach,” he added.
Railway officials said they had received a call from Sealdah Express asking for emergency medical help. It was around 5:30-6 am.
“I was told that help was sought near Saharanpur. I am not sure what had happened at other stations. At my station in Najibabad, we arranged for a doctor but, unfortunately, the baby was already dead,” said RK Singh, railway commercial inspector in Najibabad.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/45-day-old-boy-of-kolkata-couple-dies-in-train-for-lack-of-medical-aid-buried-in-up/articleshow/89841845.cms