‘Heard cries, saw a small hand’: Baby girl buried alive in UP’s Shahjahanpur rescued

Shahjahanpur Police said the infant was found by a youth and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors said her condition is improving.

Written by Manish Sahu

Lucknow | Updated: September 16, 2025 03:47 AM IST

2 min read

A newborn girl, wrapped in cloth, had been buried alive about a foot deep. (Source: Pixabay)

On Sunday morning, a young man was grazing cattle on the bank of the Bahgul River, in Shahjahanpur’s Gohawar village, when he noticed a small hand protruding from the ground. When he went closer, he heard cries.

Police said he quickly alerted other locals nearby, who cleared the wet sand. What they found left them shocked. A newborn girl, wrapped in cloth, had been buried alive about a foot deep.

They quickly took the baby out before alerting the police.

A police team immediately rushed to the spot. The infant was found breathing and was rushed to a nearby health centre before being referred to a hospital, where doctors said her condition is improving.

The infant’s hand, found bleeding and covered with ants, is suspected by doctors to have been bitten by an animal.

According to police, they received information on Sunday morning about a baby girl buried near the bank of the Bahgul River, with one of her hands protruding from the ground.

During preliminary inquiry, it was revealed that a local youth, who had gone to graze animals, first noticed the baby’s hand and, on going closer, heard her cries.

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Shahjahanpur Police have launched an inquiry and are collecting CCTV footage from the area to trace leads. No FIR has been registered so far.

Rajesh Kumar, Principal of the Government Medical College, where the child was rushed, said the baby, estimated to be over 15 days old from her skin, has been admitted to the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) and is undergoing treatment.

He added that the infant had an injury on one hand, likely caused by an animal bite, but her condition is gradually stabilising.

Station House Officer of Jaitipur police station, Gaurav Tyagi, said an inquiry into the matter is underway, and details of pregnant women in the area who recently gave birth are being collected.

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Based on the findings, action will be taken against those responsible for burying the baby, and efforts are being made to trace her parents.

When asked how the baby managed to survive after being buried, Tyagi said he could not comment on it at this stage.

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