Baby abandoned near BU Campus - True Story

September 1, 2008

Bangalore: He is just a day old and struggles to open his eyes. He’s placed under a tree at the Bangalore University campus. Flies and ants were swarming over him when he was found. The infant had been crying all the day but traffic noise drowned his cries.

A student, upon seeing the baby, informed people and soon a crowd gathered. But none came forward. It was only after Mala, a BU employee, with help from her colleagues, rushed the baby to the university health centre that the police were informed.

“I heard an abandoned baby had been found. I saw the baby shivering and ants crawling over him,” Mala said.

“After giving him first aid at the university health centre, we took him to Panacea Hospital,” she said. The baby weighs 2.8 kg and 20 inches long. A doctor said he has been admitted to the ICU and his condition is stable.

“The umbilical cord was still fresh when the baby was brought to the hospital. He came with some insect bites on his face and his blood sugar was low. We suspect damage to his cornea,” said Dr Niranjan, a pediatrician at the hospital.

Mala has been staying at the hospital since Friday looking after the baby.

“If his parents didn’t want him, they could have given him to an adoption centre instead of abandoning him. I was destined to take care of him, I think. I’ve two kids but I am not parting with this gift. I have named him Srinivas,” Mala said.

Panacea Hospital management said they will bear the treatment cost.