What started as a simple, deep yawn before a peaceful night’s sleep quickly escalated into an agonizing ordeal for 24-year-old Aashid Chandra on the Vivek Express (22503) from West Bengal. On that early Friday morning of October 17, 2025, Aashid found his jaw unexpectedly locked wide open. The severe pain and inability to close his mouth or even swallow his own saliva brought on immediate panic.
His relative promptly alerted the traveling ticket examiner (TTE), who wasted no time informing the railway authorities at Palakkad. By 2:30 a.m., as the train pulled into Palakkad Junction, Dr. Jithin P.S., an ENT surgeon from the Palakkad Railway Hospital, was already waiting on the platform, fully prepared for the emergency.
Aashid, distressed and unable to speak, communicated his predicament through gestures to Dr. Jithin. The diagnosis was clear: a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation. With practiced ease, Dr. Jithin manually reduced the dislocation using a gauze bandage.
Remarkably, Dr. Jithin resolved the issue in under three minutes, a feat typically requiring a full hospital visit. While he had performed many TMJ reductions in hospital settings, this marked his first time assisting a passenger during a train journey.
Viral Video Showcases Medical Heroism
A video clip, shared by the Railways, capturing Dr. Jithin’s swift and successful reduction of Aashid’s TMJ subluxation, rapidly went viral across social media platforms. The clip garnered immense positive feedback, with many viewers sharing their own experiences and praising the doctor’s timely intervention.
However, medical professionals were quick to issue a crucial reminder: attempting manual jaw reduction without proper medical training can be extremely dangerous.
“An inexperienced attempt could lead to serious complications like bone fracture or even arterial injury,” warned Dr. Jithin. “The precise pressure applied by a trained doctor is vital; laypeople often cannot exert the correct force.”
Though uncommon, jaw dislocation can be profoundly traumatic. It can be triggered by actions like excessive yawning, dental procedures, accidents, or seizures. Typically, such dislocations are handled by ENT specialists, maxillofacial surgeons, trained emergency physicians, or orthopedists, usually within a hospital environment following pain relief administration. ENT doctors emphasize that manual reduction is a complex procedure not to be taken lightly.
Connecting with Rail Authorities for On-Train Medical Help
The viral video not only celebrated Dr. Jithin’s quick action but also sparked widespread curiosity among responders about how to contact railway authorities during medical emergencies on trains.
Madhukar Roat, Palakkad Divisional Railway Manager, encouraged passengers to utilize the Rail Madad mobile app for medical assistance and inquiries. Passengers can also dial the toll-free number 138 during a medical emergency or simply seek help from the TTE.
Mr. Roat highlighted that the response time for passenger emergency calls has significantly improved, contributing to the overall efficiency and safety of railway services.