Chapel in Valakom, Screengrab of CCTV visuals, Rajeev (inset)
Kottarakkara: A newborn child was abandoned near the steps of a chapel at Valakom in Kollam on Tuesday. Surrounded by stray dogs, the infant was laying dangerously on the cold floor of the chapel on the MC Road for hours in the night.
Fortunately, Rajeev, who runs an eatery nearly 150 metres away from the chapel heard the unusual barking of stray dogs, interspersed with the obscure wailing of the baby. He soon rushed to the spot and rescued the baby girl.
Rajeev shooed away the dogs and waited for a vehicle to seek help. After a while, a car coming that way stopped and Rajeev handed over the baby to the woman who was in the car. Soon Rajeev went to his shop and brought some milk for the baby. They contacted the police shortly and passed the information regarding the baby.
Women cops from Chadayamangalam received the baby from Rajeev. They admitted the baby to the taluk hospital here.
Police have obtained the CCTV visuals which show a man wearing a T shirt, dhoti and a red cap placing the baby in front of the chapel at around 8.20 pm on Tuesday. He had covered his face with the cap and consciously tried to keep his head down.