Chennai: A day after an infant was found abandoned in a stormwater drain and rescued by a resident at Valasaravakkam, State Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar today visited the Institute of Child Health in Egmore and inquired about the baby where it is taken care by doctors.
The Minister assured to take necessary steps to rehabilitate the infant.
On Wednesday morning, when a milkman was delivering supplies on Sixth Main Road at SVS Nagar, Valasaravakkam, he heard cries of a baby from the stormwater drain. He informed Geetha, actress and resident of the area, who came out and pulled the infant out and removed the umbilical cord around his neck.
A video of Geetha rescuing the infant has gone viral on social media. Geetha said no one was willing to help the child.
“I took the child out and clipped the umbilical chord around his neck,” she said.
Geeta informed the Valsaravakkam police station from where Inspector U Muthuraja along with Sub-Inspectors Theerthagiri, Munusamy and head constables Venkatappan rushed to the spot.
“The boy had dirt all over the body and the umbilical cord was intact,” the Inspector said.
The boy was first taken to the Urban Health Centre at Chinna Porur from where he was shifted to the Institute of Child Health at Egmore.
According to the doctors, the boy is still in the incubator. Police suspect the child was born around 6 am in a house.
“It does not appear to be a birth in a hospital. We are carrying out investigation. We will be taking strict action against the parents once we find them,” the Inspector said.
Geeta has named the baby Swathanthiram, as he was born on Independence Day and plans to adopt him.
Officials from the Social Welfare Department said parents should utilise the cradle scheme of the State government, instead of abandoning babies.