CUTTACK: Yet another baby girl was found abandoned at the crematorium at Madhuban village under Barang police limits on Wednesday night. The abandoned baby girl, aged about one and half-month, was rescued by a local priest, and handed over to District Child Protection Unit on Thursday.
As per reports, priest Sishir Panda was returning home after accomplishing daily rituals in a Shiva temple near the crematorium at about 9 pm when he heard the cries of an infant. He found the baby girl lying on the crematory ground with two stray dogs guarding her in the chilly night.
Panda took the girl to his house where his family members found a tumour on her back while washing her. The priest took the infant to Barang police station seeking help. After police expressed helplessness, he took her to a private hospital in Cuttack where doctors informed him that she needed an operation which would cost at least `1 lakh.
Later, the villagers handed over the baby to District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Pragati Mohanty who rushed her to Sishu Bhawan. “After preliminary treatment, Sishu Bhawan authorities refused to go for further treatment stating that her spinal cord is congenitally deformed which leads to lack of sensation from below the tumour till her legs.
They also said there is less chance of curing her even if the surgery is conducted,” said Pragati, adding that they shifted the girl to Servants of India Society at Choudwar.
Meanwhile, Child Welfare Committee has directed Barang police to initiate an inquiry as to under what circumstances the baby was abandoned, informed CWC member Pradip Patnaik.