Local labour: GRP delivers right on time

MUMBAI: When Pooja Londhe went into labour on a Churchgate-bound fast local recently, her co-passengers were too nervous to react. Fortunately for Pooja, a male commuter in an adjoining compartment heard the commotion near Elphinstone station and informed the GRP helpline about her situation. The cops kept a stretcher and ambulance ready at Mumbai Central and rushed her to JJ Hospital.Unknown to Pooja, her case became the 232nd medical emergency handled by GRP personnel at the helpline since its inception in 2008.
"We have handled all kinds of SOS calls-from lost baggage and stolen valuables to cases of molestation and assault. Medical emergencies are always given top priority,'' said assistant inspector SM Gidde, in-charge of the helpline number 9833331111.
On Friday, the cops rushed medical aid to a group of accident victims who were returning to Maharashtra from Kolkata. Natives of Ahmednagar, the victims had met with a road accident at Dankuni-25 kms from Kolkata- while they were travelling to Ganga Sagar for a pilgrimage. Eight persons were killed and 15 others were injured in the mishap on Wednesday. The state arranged to fly some of the bodies, while those injured boarded the Azad Hind Express from Howrah to Pune.
Thirty-four of the pilgrims were travelling in coach S3. Of these, three were accident victims and were on a saline drip. "We received a call from their relative on Friday that the saline drip was about to get over and there were no doctors available on the train. The train was to pull into Nagpur, so we informed the GRP officials there. The station master and a team of doctors boarded the train at Nagpur and to tend to the injured trio. The victims also wanted to know if their injuries were serious and whether they should go to a bigger hospital in Pune. The doctors adviced them to travel back home to Ahmednagar as there was nothing to worry,'' a helpline personnel said.
Since its inception, the helpline has received 8,182 calls from passengers in distress. Of these, 626 calls pertained to railway accidents, officials said. As many as 143 persons have been booked under various criminal cases and 60 hawkers have also been booked.
In July last year, a commuter, Vinod Kamble, had forgotten a box containing cancer medicines worth Rs 2 lakh while getting off a local at Dadar. After he dialled the helpline, GRP personnel boarded the CST-bound train at Byculla station and retrieved the box.
Call for help
2173 calls made by commuters who had forgotten their bags behind in trains. The cops retrieved 647 bags, 27 laptops, 17 mobiles, 24 tolas of gold, Rs 81,000 in cash, 4 digital cameras and valuables worth Rs 4.85 lakh
37 persons playing cards and 81 involved in assault cases were booked
59 children found roaming (without parents or guardians) on platforms and in trains were taken into custody
144 commuters booked for travelling illegally in compartments reserved for the handicapped