Six-month-old baby still missing after falling into canal in Chattogram

A six-month-old baby named Sehris remains missing after falling into the Hijla canal in the Kapasgola area of Chawkbazar in Chattogram city.

The accident occurred around 8pm on Friday (April 18) near Nawab Hotel. In the incident, a battery-powered rickshaw fell into the canal. While the mother was rescued, the baby was swept away by the strong current.

Since then, personnel from the Fire Service, Navy, Ansar, Police, and Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) have been continuously conducting rescue operations, but the child has still not been found.

It was reported that the baby was out for a ride with her mother and grandmother in a battery-powered rickshaw. Due to flooding from rain, the rickshaw overturned and fell into the Hijla canal. While locals managed to rescue the rickshaw puller, the mother and grandmother were swept away by the current and eventually got stuck in a pipe under a bridge. They were later rescued by removing a slab of the bridge. However, baby Sehris has been missing since the incident.

The team of divers continued their efforts throughout the night. At dawn, the rescue operation resumed with renewed effort. Locals have also been assisting in the operation.

Abdul Mannan, deputy assistant director of the Fire Service's Chattogram division, said, “Due to the structure of the canal and the strong current, the rescue operation has become extremely challenging. We are making our utmost effort.”

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain arrived at the scene on Friday night. He said that cleaning staff and rescue teams from various wards of the city corporation had been called in. The rickshaw was also recovered from the canal. All-out efforts are underway to rescue the child.