Newborn Abandoned by Parents Under Stone in Madhya Pradesh Forest, Survives

A three-day-old infant miraculously survived a night in the Nandanwadi forest of Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, after being abandoned by his parents under a heavy stone.

Discovered by villagers at dawn, the baby endured freezing temperatures, ant bites, and near-suffocation, yet clung to life against all odds.

The heart-wrenching cries of the newborn broke the early morning silence, alerting villagers who initially mistook the sound for an animal. Upon investigation, they uncovered a bloodied and shivering infant trapped beneath a stone. “We saw tiny hands moving. It’s unimaginable that parents could do this,” said a villager who helped rescue the child.

The infant’s parents, Bablu Dandoliya, a government teacher, and Rajkumari Dandoliya, confessed to abandoning their fourth child out of fear that Bablu’s job could be jeopardised due to government regulations limiting employment for those with more than two children.

To conceal the pregnancy, Rajkumari gave birth at home on September 23, and the couple left the newborn in the forest hours later.

Medical staff at Chhindwara District Hospital described the baby’s survival as “miraculous.” The infant suffered from hypothermia and ant bites but is now stable and receiving care. “Surviving such exposure overnight is extremely rare,” a paediatrician noted.

The Chhindwara police have registered a case under Section 93 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for child abandonment. Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Kalyani Barkade stated that additional charges, potentially including BNS Section 109 (attempt to murder), are under consideration pending further legal review.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Madhya Pradesh has the highest rate of newborn abandonment in India, often linked to poverty, stigma, or employment-related fears. However, this case stands out as particularly shocking, given the parents’ educated background and their calculated decision to abandon their child.