Maharashtra: Stepfather throws 6-year-old into river, locals rescue minor

A man allegedly threw his six-year-old step-daughter into a river in the district in a fit of rage, but the minor miraculously survived through the rainy night as she fell on water hyacinth floating on the water, before she was rescued by locals next morning, police said on Friday.

The incident took place in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

The accused, Tulsiram Saini, 48-year-old man, had married the girl's mother and three of them lived at Lokmanya Nagar in Thane. On Wednesday night, following a dispute at home, the accused took Ekta along with him on motorcycle and pushed her into Ulhas river from a bridge at Badlapur in the district. Thinking that the girl has drowned, he escaped from the spot, police said.

"However, the minor landed on the carpet of water hyacinth floating on the river water and hence was saved from drowning. But the girl remained on the hyacinth through the rainy night," said police inspector N M Satdive of Vartak Nagar police station.

"The next morning, when the passersby spotted the girl after hearing her cries for help. The local people immediately called the fire brigade. Local people and fire brigade personnel then rescued the girl," he said.

The minor, who suffered severe mosquito bites through the night, has been admitted to Thane Civil Hospital for treatment.

The girl's mother had seen Saini taking the girl along with him on Wednesday night. However, since both of them did not return home, she filed a case of kidnapping against her husband, who is still at large.

According to police, the couple used to quarrel frequently and the man wanted to get rid of the child and hence he threw her into the water. A manhunt has been launched to trace the accused and further probe is on.