India's hospital train celebrates 25 years

The Lifeline Express, the world's first hospital on a train, also known as the Magic Train of India, today celebrates 25 years of service to the poor and underprivileged masses of rural India.   Mumbai, July 16 (ANI): At a function held here to celebrate the success of the train, Western Railway General Manager, G.C Agrawal said that in 1991 there were three coaches in the train which provided medical facilities to poor and rural people where there were no hospitals available. The train covered 173 projects in 18 state and also covered two lakh kilometres distance.  The new Lifeline Express, given by the Indian Railways in 2007, has five coaches. The train, which is the flagship of Impact India Foundation, in partnership with the Indian Railways, has medically served more than 10,00,000 poor in rural India, restoring sight, movement, hearing and correction of cleft lips with dental and neurological treatment and more, completely free of cost. In addition to providing access to these much needed service, the Lifeline Express seeks to improve the efficiency of the existing local government and voluntary health infrastructure and services, as well as providing initiative and encouragement for the local bodies to get involved in all aspects of the programme and provide follow-up services after the train has left. For the past 25 years, with the active partnership of the Indian Railways, the Lifeline Express has made an impact on the lives of the rural people of India.  The train has the distinction of being the first ever hospital-on-rails in the world. This unique hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities and equipment to cater to the needs of the rural patients. (ANI/ Bhatkallys News Service)