The statistics of the Lifeline Express are staggering enough. Each of them represents a human being given a whole new way of life in a land where disability is often fatalistically accepted. Let's take a brief look at some of the human stories in the train's mercy time-table ...

The patients have ranged from six-month old baby to old people in their eighties.

Seven-year-old Vijay was the first child to be operated at the train's first project - Khalari, in Bihar State. He'd contracted polio soon after birth, spent his first few years crawling on all fours, then attempting to walk again with home-made bamboo crutches, falling frequently, never safe to go anywhere unaccompanied. Now he walks without crutches, his leg supported in plastic calipers, which he swings with ease. Walking unaided to the train for a check up, he grinned his approval " I feel great. I will now go to school by myself, study to be an engineer ... and play football ".

Master Ganesh, aged 5 years, suffered from congenital Cataracts in both eyes. His father, Mr. Damarudhar Seth of village Pibida, Block Puintala in Bolangir had heard a lot about the Lifeline Express, He waited impatiently, for the project to commence in August 2002.

His son, almost blind from birth, was registered for the surgery on the Lifeline Express. Ganesh was operated on 28th August 2002 for his right eye and on 31st August 2002 for his left eye with IOL implantation.

After Surgery (IOL implant in right eye)

Now Ganesh sees the world created by God "Asatomam Sath Gamayam, Tamasomam Jyotir Gamayam" Oh God, from Darkness lead us unto Light.

Dr. Sunil Kalda had operated on Padmabati Seth, aged 9 years, daughter of Shri Ganaant Seth of village Damlipali, Block Patnagarh, Dist. Bolangir for cleft lip on the left side of her face on June 4, 2002 during the Lifeline Express project at Khariar Road. By the grace of God, a partial rectification had been achieved at Khariar Road on Padmabati's totally disfigured face. The surgery changed Padmabati's family, kindling aspirations. 

On becoming aware of the likelihood of a Lifeline Express project at Bolangir, her father, Mr. Gunbant Seth, was eager to make the most of the opportunity provided to complete the transformation of his daughter's face. He kept in constant touch with the Block officer at Bolangir, so strong was his determination to give his daughter a new, beautiful countenance and life.

After Surgery ( with cleft lip repair)

After Surgery (with MACROSTOMIA repair)

Macrostomia repair was performed on Padmabati on the Lifeline Express in Bolangir at the safe hands of Dr. Mrs. Nirved Jain.

This experience illustrates that though the Lifeline Express may have its own schedule and stops, the people of the area keep track of its movements and utilise its services wherever it goes - so high are the expectations the "Magic Train" raises.

A fifteen-year-old girl named Abbha ( from Nandgaon village in Maharashtra ), had an attack of measles as a toddler, leaving her unable to hear, or learn how to speak other than in guttural grunts. Now she sings sweetly to the sound of her transistor radio, while her mother prepares for her daughter's wedding.

Shikari and his wife, Babban were blind with cataracts in Raipur, Western India. Travel to the nearest hospital hundreds of miles away was out of the question. The hospital came to them instead. Their cataracts were removed and Babban's hearing was also restored, with a mid-ear operation. " We were just waiting for our death ", said Shilari, looking through his new spectacles. " This hospital on rails gave us back not only our sight but our life ".

(Vijay)