Kochi: A 13-year-old girl from Anchal in Kollam is being transported to Kochi on the Vande Bharat Express for an emergency heart transplant surgery after an air ambulance could not be arranged.

The girl, who was under treatment at Sree Chitra Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, was advised to undergo an immediate heart transplant after doctors found that her heart was at risk of failing. She is scheduled to undergo surgery at Lisie Hospital, Kochi, where she is expected to arrive by 7:00 pm today.

The transplant opportunity arose after the hospital informed the girl’s family on Friday morning that a donor heart had been made available. They were instructed to reach Kochi immediately.

Efforts were made by Kollam MP N.K. Premachandran who arranged an air ambulance, but due to its unavailability, the decision was made to transport her on the Vande Bharat Express under the MP quota. The train departed at 4:52 pm.

Emergency tests will be conducted at Lisie Hospital before proceeding with the transplant.