Kerala: Baby miraculously escapes unhurt after winds blow away cradle
Even as torrential rains and gusty winds swept across Kerala, a two-month-old baby was miraculously saved after he was blown away along with his cradle. The baby was sleeping peacefully, while his cloth cradle was tied to the ceiling in his home in Thiruvananthapuram. The tranquility got disrupted when strong winds disturbed the entire arrangement, flinging the baby into the air.
Landed up in coconut tree, cradle was hanging precariously
Vinayak, the baby, along with his cradle, landed on a coconut tree adjacent to his house. His mother Sheeba couldn't figure out what to do. By now, the asbestos roof had blown away too. She ran to the tree while screaming for help, which alerted other villagers. They rushed to find the baby hanging in the cradle, which hung precariously from the tree.
Not just escaped, Vinayak didn't even sustain injuries
A couple of villagers immediately climbed up the tree and rescued Vinayak. He was later admitted to a local hospital, where a preliminary examination was conducted to detect any injury. The baby is doing well, informed the doctors. The southwest monsoon hit Kerala on May 29, and had gained intensity in the last two days, causing huge damage to people and crops.
Monsoon aftermath: 21 lives lost, crops worth Rs. 6cr damaged
21 people have been killed and crops worth over Rs. 6cr damaged in Kerala till now, Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan said. 1,109 houses were partially damaged and 61 fully destroyed in the rains. More than 120 people from 33 families have been shifted to relief camps. The families of the deceased would be given Rs. 4L from the State Disaster Relief Fund.
Control rooms set up to handle complaints, other measures taken
Control rooms have been set up in all districts to coordinate emergency operations, Chandrasekharan said. Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation Mathew T Thomas said steps have been taken to prevent sea erosion by putting granite boulders and geo-tubes. Meanwhile, as rains continued, authorities said shutters of Neyyar dam in Thiruvananthapuram would be opened if the water level touches maximum capacity.
