Daijiworld Media Network - Nabadwip

Nabadwip, Dec 3: In a remarkable display of instinct and compassion, a newborn baby left alone outside a bathroom in a railway workers’ colony in Nadia district was guarded overnight by a pack of stray dogs. The infant, only a few hours old and still marked with blood from birth, was found without a blanket, note, or anyone nearby. Yet the animals stood silently around the child, keeping watch until morning.

Residents first spotted the scene at dawn. “The dogs were alert but not aggressive, as if they understood the child was fighting to live,” said Sukla Mondal, one of the first to approach the baby. Another resident, Subhash Pal, recalled the short, sharp cry at dawn and was astonished to see the newborn surrounded by the vigilant pack.

Sukla wrapped the baby in her dupatta and called neighbours. The child was rushed to Maheshganj Hospital and then referred to Krishnanagar Sadar Hospital. Doctors confirmed there were no injuries, and the blood on the head was likely from birth, indicating that the baby had been abandoned just minutes after delivery. Police suspect someone from the locality may have left the infant under the cover of night. Nabadwip police and Child Help authorities have launched an investigation and initiated long-term care procedures.

The incident has left a lasting impression on the community. “These are the same dogs we complain about, but they showed more humanity than whoever abandoned that child,” said a railway worker. Local elders linked the episode to the spirit of compassion associated with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the 15th-century saint born in the town, whose teachings of empathy continue to influence the community.

By evening, children in the Rail Colony were offering biscuits to the dogs that had kept vigil, with one teenager noting, “They saved the baby.” Residents say the night will remain etched in memory, a reminder that protection and compassion can sometimes come from the most unexpected places.