Infant dies after mother goes missing from hospital

A three-month-old baby died at the Vehari District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital after his mother reportedly went missing from the children's ward for nearly 10 hours, prompting police to investigate allegations that a security guard may have abducted her.

According to the police, the woman, a resident of Mustafa Abad in Karam Pur, had brought her critically ill three-month-old son to the Children's Complex at the DHQ Hospital after he developed high fever. The infant was admitted to the ward, where doctors began his treatment.

At around midnight, the child's mother allegedly went missing from the ward. Hospital attendants later noticed the infant crying continuously, but the woman could not be located. The police were informed and reached the hospital to launch an investigation.

During initial inquiry, suspicion fell on a hospital security guard, Kashif, who had allegedly gone missing from duty at the same time. The police were investigating allegations that the guard might have abducted the woman.

The infant died the following morning in the hospital. The police had not yet concluded whether the child's death had resulted solely from his medical condition.

The woman returned to the hospital about 10 hours after her disappearance. However, by the time she arrived, her child had died. The police recorded her statement and were examining the circumstances surrounding her absence.

The security guard remained missing and the police were making efforts to trace him. Investigators were reviewing CCTV footage, mobile phone records and location data to trace his movement during the woman's absence.

Hospital record reportedly showed that the woman had visited the same ward about a month earlier with the infant for a check-up. Daniwal police said all aspects of the case were being examined and the facts related to the case would be made public after the completion of the investigation.