'Green corridor' in Delhi helps transport heart 20 km in 16 minutes

In a coordinated effort by hospitals and the Delhi traffic police, a heart harvested from a 57-year-old brain dead patient was transported from Karol Bagh to Saket, a distance of about 20 km, in a record 16 minutes for transplantation.

The Delhi traffic police provided 'green corridor' for transportation of a human heart which was carried from B L Kapur Super Speciality Hospital, Pusa Road in Karol Bagh to Max Super Speciality Hospital in Saket.

The distance of 20 km between the two hospitals was covered in a record 16 minutes, said Sharad Agarwal, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic (Operations).

The request to provide the 'green corridor' was received by Delhi traffic police last midnight, Agarwal said.

The heart and other organs of the 57-year-old brain dead patient were harvested and transplanted into six needy patients including the one who received the heart at Max Hospital in Saket, said a spokesperson of BL Kapur Hospital.

This was the first heart transplant carried out at Max Hospital in Saket, said a hospital spokesperson.

Image published only for representational purposes.