An eight-month-old baby girl is fighting for her life after her mother forced her to take acid at her home in Bhiwadi town in Rajasthan’s Khairthal Bhiwadi district, police said on Monday.
The incident reportedly took place in Captain Chowk area of Bhiwadi and sparked shock and anger among local residents. According to police and family members, the baby was alone at home with her mother when the accident occurred.
How did the father find out?
The girl, named Kavya, was first taken to a hospital in Bhiwadi after her condition rapidly deteriorated. Given the seriousness of her injuries, doctors referred her to Alwar Children’s Hospital, where she remains in critical condition on a ventilator.
The girl’s father, Mohit, claimed that the incident occurred while he was away from work.
He said: “I left for work. My sister informed me about this incident. Then I took my daughter to the government hospital in Bhiwadi to receive treatment, and from there they referred us to another place.”
He added: “After that, we transferred the child to a private hospital, and when the doctor examined the child properly, it was found that she had internal burns.”
What did the doctors say?
Mohit claimed that his wife initially denied any involvement before later confessing to committing the act after the family threatened to report it to the police.
He added: “Then I asked my wife about the matter, but at first she denied everything. Then we warned her that the police would be reported and the necessary measures would be taken. After that, she admitted the truth, which was that she had given the child acid to drink.”
According to local media reports, the baby began crying uncontrollably after ingesting the alleged substance and began bleeding from her nose and mouth, causing panic among family members.
Additional Superintendent of Police Shriman Meena said a case has been registered and investigation is underway.
The officer said: “We have received information that her mother gave the child acid. The child is undergoing treatment and the police are investigating all aspects of the case, including the motive behind the incident.”
What do doctors say
Doctors treating the child said that she had suffered serious internal injuries and was still in a very critical condition.
Dr. Somdutta Gupta said that the extent of the damage caused by the chemical can only be determined after conducting specialized medical examinations.
“As stated in the initial report, the family informed the police how the accident occurred, why it happened, and whether acid or any other chemical was manufactured for their consumption,” the doctor said.
The doctor added: “The extent of the spread of the chemical, whether it entered the esophagus (food pipe) or the respiratory system, cannot be determined except through endoscopy and bronchoscopy.”
Dr Rashi Singh Kaushik said the baby was taken to hospital in a very critical condition.
She said: “The baby’s name is Kavya. Her father’s name is Mohit. She is an eight-month-old baby. She was initially treated at Bhiwadi Hospital and was transferred here at around 7pm yesterday.”
Dr Kaushik added: “According to the family members, the mother made the child take acid. The child was suffering from constant bleeding. She is on a ventilator, her oxygen saturation is not being fully maintained and she is in severe distress. We are monitoring her continuously.”
Doctors said that the child is still under close observation and receiving treatment by a specialized medical team around the clock.
“But from my initial examination, the baby appears to be in a very critical condition. She has been placed on a ventilator with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, yet she is still in severe distress,” Dr. Gupta said.
The doctor added: “Whether she will survive or not, and even if she survives, what kind of complications she may face, is impossible to predict at the moment.”
The police said that further action in this case will depend on the medical report and the results of the ongoing investigation.
