'Real-life Rancho': Mumbai man delivers baby on station platform via doctor’s video call

Both the mother and the newborn were later taken to a hospital and are reported to be in good health.

In the early hours of Thursday, a passenger at Mumbai’s Ram Mandir railway station assisted a woman in giving birth on the station platform, following real-time instructions from a doctor through a video call.

The incident was first shared on Instagram by musician Manjeet Dhillon, who posted a video along with a detailed account of what had unfolded. The woman, who had gone into labour while travelling on a local train around 1 am, began experiencing severe contractions as the train neared Ram Mandir station.

Recognising the emergency, Vikas Dilip Bedre, a co-passenger, pulled the train’s emergency chain to bring it to a halt. Dhillon wrote that the delivery became critical when “the baby was halfway out, half inside and half outside”. He described the moment as overwhelming, adding, “It truly felt like God had sent this brother there for a reason.”

With no ambulance or medical staff available at that hour, Bedre contacted his friend, Dr Devika Deshmukh, and sought help through a video call. Under her step-by-step guidance, he assisted the woman in safely delivering her baby on the platform.

According to Dhillon, the woman’s family had earlier approached a nearby hospital but were reportedly turned away. Left with no option, they had decided to travel back home by train when labour intensified.

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A post shared by Manjeet Dhillon (@manjeet9862_)

Dhillon praised Bedre’s actions, saying, “That night, this man became the reason two lives were saved. Many people were just watching and walking away, but we couldn’t because we are human. If you ever get a chance to help someone, take it as a sign from God and do it, my friends.”

Both the mother and the newborn were later taken to a hospital and are reported to be in good health.

A separate video circulating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shows Bedre near the woman and her baby, surrounded by family members. Smiling with relief, he explained that it was his first time assisting in such a situation. “It’s the first time I’ve done something like this. I was very scared, but the madam helped me over video call,” he said.

Online, citizens have widely commended Bedre’s presence of mind and courage. Many users compared him to “Rancho”, the character played by Aamir Khan in the film "3 Idiots", who delivers a baby by following instructions via a video call.

One user wrote, “He is a real-life Rancho. This is our Mumbai where someone will come to help even at 1 AM. And this Mumbai and Mumbaikars are beyond any politics.” Another commented, “Ye hai real Chanchordas Chanchad… 3 Idiot.”