Railway hospital saves toddler after rare emergency

The Divisional Railway Hospital, Asansol, under the Asansol Division of Eastern Railway, successfully managed a rare and extraordinary medical emergency on 12 January 2026 involving a one-year-and-four-month-old child whose index finger was trapped into an idli-making plate, posing a serious risk of compromised blood circulation.

Upon arrival at the Divisional Railway Hospital, Asansol, the child was immediately shifted to the operation theatre and placed under sedation. The primary challenge was to remove the tightly lodged metal plate without causing injury or affecting the blood supply to the child’s finger. Several attempts were made using standard orthopaedic instruments, but the plate could not be removed safely.

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In the critical situation, assistance was sought from Mr Chandan Kumar, a technician engaged in ongoing modular OT work at the hospital. With his support, an iron grinder was carefully used to cut the metal plate.

The child is currently stable and doing well, with no major injury to the finger or hand. Blood supply was found to be optimal, confirmed through pulse oximeter readings and normal skin colour.

The life-saving procedure was led by Dr Ranjan Kumar, ACMS/Surgeon, and Dr Indranil Chakraborty, ADMO/OPD, with strong support from the operation theatre team comprising Dr Beas Mukherjee (DMO/Anaesthesia), Mousumi Mukhopadhyay (CNS), Anita Mukherjee (CNS), Harindra Prasad (Dresser-I), Deepak Nonia (HA) and Sagar (Cleaning Assistant).