New Delhi: In a shocking incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district in August, a newborn was found injured and clinging to life on a tree after allegedly being thrown from a bridge by his parents. The seven-day-old boy, who was stuck on the branches, had over 50 wounds on his body, including a severe animal bite on his back. Rescuers rushed him to a district hospital, from where he was taken to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, also known as Hallett Hospital, in Kanpur due to his critical condition.
Naming the child Krishna, after the Hindu deity because he was found on Janmashtami on August 26, the hospital staff formed a deep bond with him. “When he cried in pain, nurses would sing lullabies to soothe him, as touching him was impossible with wounds covering his body,” a nurse said. Krishna’s struggle moved the entire hospital, with doctors and nurses caring for him as though he were their own.
Dr Sanjay Kala, the hospital principal, said that the baby’s injuries appeared to be caused by both the fall and subsequent animal bites, likely from crows or other animals. His journey to recovery, which took close to two months, was a challenging one, with every hospital staff member rallying to ensure his survival.
Hospital staff bids an emotional farewell
On October 24, after making a complete recovery, Krishna was handed over to the police and the local child welfare committee. Saying goodbye to him was difficult for the hospital staff, who had grown attached to the little boy. Reflecting on the ordeal, Dr Kala expressed disbelief at the parents’ actions, saying that if they didn’t want the child, they could have safely left him in a public place instead. Nurse Lakshmi said “Once he started to heal, we longed to hold him, but his injuries wouldn’t allow it. Now, we just hope he finds happiness and love.”
