In a race against time that underscored the power of coordinated civic effort, Mumbai witnessed the creation of a life-saving green corridor on Tuesday, April 15. The high-priority medical route enabled the swift transportation of a donor heart, covering a distance of over 10 kilometers in a record 17 minutes during the evening rush hour.
The Clock Starts Ticking: A Donor Heart Becomes Available
The critical chain of events began at the state-run KEM Hospital in Parel, where a patient was declared brain dead. The family of the deceased, in a moment of profound generosity, consented to organ donation. The retrieved heart was designated for a waiting recipient at Fortis Hospital in Mulund.
However, the logistical challenge was immense. The journey from Parel to Mulund, typically taking 60 to 90 minutes in Mumbai's notorious traffic, posed a severe threat to the viability of the precious organ. For a successful transplant, the heart's ischemic time—the period it can survive outside a body—is critically limited. The solution was a perfectly executed green corridor.
The 17-Minute Medical Marathon
Mumbai's traffic police sprang into action upon receiving the request from the hospital authorities. A detailed route was meticulously planned, and personnel were deployed at every intersection along the path. The corridor stretched from KEM Hospital in Parel, through the crucial JJ Flyover, and onward to the Eastern Freeway, finally reaching Fortis Hospital in Mulund.
At approximately 6:14 PM, the ambulance carrying the donor heart in a special preservation box embarked on its urgent mission. With police vehicles leading the way and clearing traffic at every juncture, the ambulance completed the 10.6-kilometer journey by 6:31 PM. This seamless coordination between medical teams and law enforcement turned a potentially risky transit into a 17-minute triumph.
A New Lease on Life and a Broader Message
The successful transportation allowed the surgical team at Fortis Hospital to immediately begin the transplant procedure on the waiting recipient. This event is a powerful testament to the efficiency of Mumbai's system for handling such critical medical emergencies.
Beyond the single life saved, the incident casts a spotlight on the enduring importance of organ donation. Each such act of donation, facilitated by swift systemic support, can save multiple lives. The Mumbai Police's role in creating the green corridor has been widely praised, demonstrating how public services can directly contribute to life-saving healthcare outcomes.
This event marks another successful chapter in India's transplant history, encouraging greater public awareness about the donation process and the intricate logistics that make such miracles possible every day.
