Desk Report:
A newborn baby girl who was buried alive in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has been rescued. The 20-day-old baby, who is undergoing treatment in a hospital, is now in a critical condition.
The BBC report said that a shepherd was grazing his goats when he heard faint cries from under a pile of soil. He went closer and saw a small hand sticking out of the soil. He informed the villagers and the police came and rescued the baby.
The baby is now undergoing treatment at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Shahjahanpur district.
The principal of the medical college, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, told the BBC that the baby was brought to the hospital last Monday. He was suffering from breathing problems due to mud getting into his mouth and nose. Dr. Kumar said, “The baby’s condition was critical, he was suffering from hypoxia or lack of oxygen in his body. He had been bitten by insects and some animal.”
Dr. Kumar added, “After 24 hours, there was a slight improvement in her condition, but then it got worse again. She developed an infection.” He believes the child was found quickly because the wounds were fresh.
A team of doctors, including a plastic surgeon, is treating the child and trying to control the infection. “The symptoms are serious, but we are trying our best to save her,” said Dr. Kumar.
Police said efforts are on to trace the child’s parents, but so far there has been no trace. The state child welfare agency has been informed.
This is not the first such incident in India. In 2019, the BBC reported on a premature baby who was buried alive in an earthen pot. After a few weeks in the hospital, doctors said she had recovered.
India is one of the worst countries in the world in terms of gender inequality. Women in India face social discrimination throughout their lives, and girls, especially among the poor, are seen as a financial burden.
Due to the traditional bias towards sons, millions of female foeticide and infanticide have been occurring in India for years. Most unwanted female foetuses are aborted with the help of illegal sex-determination clinics. Even then, cases of killing female babies after birth are not uncommon.
