A 20-day-old baby girl who was found buried alive in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh is in critical condition, doctors at a government-run hospital said on Wednesday.
The infant was discovered by chance when a shepherd grazing his goats heard faint cries coming from beneath a mound of earth. On closer inspection, he noticed a tiny hand protruding from the soil. Alarmed, he alerted local villagers, who then informed police. Officers rushed to the spot and carefully dug the child out before rushing her to the nearest medical facility.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, principal of the Shahjahanpur Medical College and Hospital, said the baby was brought in on Monday in a grave condition. “She was smeared in dirt, mud had gone into her mouth and nostrils, and she was gasping for air. She was showing signs of hypoxia, or oxygen deficiency. She had also been bitten by insects and possibly an animal,” he explained.
Doctors initially saw slight improvement in her condition within the first 24 hours, but her health has since worsened. “She has developed an infection and is deteriorating. The prognosis is grave, but we are trying our best to save her,” Dr. Kumar added. A team of specialists, including a plastic surgeon, is treating the infant in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Police officials confirmed that efforts to trace the baby’s parents have so far been unsuccessful. The state’s child helpline has been informed, and authorities said she would be placed under state care if she survives.
This disturbing incident is not unprecedented in India, where the preference for sons remains deeply ingrained in many communities. In 2019, a premature baby girl was found buried alive in a clay pot in the state. She survived after weeks of treatment in hospital.
India has one of the most skewed gender ratios in the world, a result of widespread sex-selective abortions and infanticide targeting female children. Campaigners say entrenched social attitudes see girls as a financial burden, particularly in poorer families, where dowry and marriage costs often weigh heavily.
While illegal, sex determination clinics continue to operate, enabling millions of female foetuses to be aborted each year. For those who survive birth, the threat of neglect or violence remains high. “Such cases highlight the urgent need for stronger enforcement of laws and greater awareness to change the mindset that devalues girls,” said a women’s rights activist in Lucknow, reacting to the Shahjahanpur case.
As the baby continues her fight for survival, the incident has once again cast a spotlight on the harsh realities of gender discrimination in India. Authorities say investigations are ongoing, but for now, the focus remains on saving the child’s life.
