Activists seek probe into infant deaths at Sishu Vihar in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Child rights activists have demanded an inquiry into the cases of two infants from Sishu Vihar who had died of ill health. One of the infants, Nithya, weighed barely over a kilo when she was found at the Begumpet railway station.
“The baby was initially noticed by passengers who grew suspicious of the mother’s age. The woman who was carrying the baby seemed old and used to beg.Results of the DNA samples taken are pending. The child had been shifted to Sishu Vihar as she was malnourished,” said a police official from SR Nagar police station.
The infant had been sent to Niloufer Hospital for check-up where doctors suggested the baby should be fed properly. Nithya had been staying at the home since July 12. On July 14, her nose started bleeding and she was again taken to the hospital where doctors declared her dead.
In the other case, nine-month-old Sathya Sri, who was found near her mother’s dead body in the first week of July, died while undergoing treatment for multiple infections. “Her mother had died of ill health. She was found by a passer-by and was shifted to Sishu Vihar on July 9,” said an officer. During a check-up at Nilofer Hospital, it was found that Sathya Sri was suffering from fungal infection and multiple disorders. She died while undergoing treatment on July 14.
“We have demanded an in-depth enquiry into the deaths and want to find out the main reason as to why such deaths are happening frequently,” said president of child rights NGO Balala Hakkula Sangham, Achyuta Rao.