A 20-day-old girl allegedly died after a procession carrying an idol of Goddess Lakshmi for immersion passed outside her home in Mudiyari village in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district, police said on Saturday.
The infant’s family has alleged that loud music played through a DJ system during the procession caused the baby’s heartbeat to stop. Police have seized the DJ equipment and sent the infant’s body for a post-mortem examination.
According to police, the incident took place on Friday when the infant was sleeping beside her mother, Reema Shah, at their home. A group of people carrying the idol reportedly passed near the house with loud music playing from a DJ system.
The family said the DJ vehicle stopped outside their home and continued playing music at a high volume. The infant reportedly began crying before her family noticed that she was unresponsive.
Her relatives rushed her to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
The infant’s aunt alleged that the family had repeatedly requested those operating the DJ system to move the vehicle and lower the volume, but their pleas were ignored.
She said Reema had been staying at her maternal home with the newborn for around 10 days because no one was available to look after them at her matrimonial home.
Police seize DJ equipment, await post-mortem report
Circle Officer (Bansdih) Jaishankar Mishra said Maniyar police station received information about the incident on Friday.
He confirmed that the infant’s body had been sent for a post-mortem examination and that the vehicle carrying the DJ equipment had been seized.
Police said further legal action would depend on the post-mortem findings. The investigation is underway.
The family’s allegation that loud music caused the infant’s death has not yet been medically established.
