The infant, born to Ashraf and Riswana, experienced seizures and other critical issues after being startled by the loud explosions at a nearby home.
Published Jan 16, 2025 | 3:21 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 16, 2025 | 3:21 PM
Infant in a hospital. Representational Image. (iStock)
A 22-day-old infant from the Thrippangottur area of the Kannur district in Kerala suffered severe health complications and has been admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) due to the noise caused by the setting off of high-intensity firecrackers during a wedding celebration.
The infant, born to Ashraf and Riswana, experienced seizures and other critical issues after being startled by the loud explosions at a nearby home.
Currently, the baby is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit at Aster MIMS Hospital in Kannur. The parents told South First that their repeated requests to tone down the noise were ignored.
The incidents occurred at night on 12 January (Sunday) and daytime on 13 January (Monday) during a wedding nearby. Despite repeated pleas from the family to tone down the celebrations on Sunday night, they continued bursting firecrackers.
The following evening, during the groom’s grand exit, another round of firecrackers being set off caused loud noise once again, further aggravating the situation.
“As soon as the explosion was heard, the baby went still and only regained consciousness after gentle shaking,” Khadeeja, the baby’s grandmother, explained.
She added that her elder daughter, who is seven months pregnant, also pleaded with the organisers to stop the firecrackers. “But a group of youngsters ignored our requests and continued during the DJ party on Sunday night and the celebrations on Monday evening,” she said.
The family stated that the loud explosions resumed when the groom returned home and again during a felicitation ceremony. It was at this point that the baby’s condition worsened.
Speaking to South First, Riswana, the baby’s mother, expressed her distress, “The doctors have said we need to wait for the next report. The baby is still in the ICU [intensive care unit]. I tried to feed her, but she couldn’t respond.”
According to Ashraf, the baby’s father, the trouble began on Sunday night around 10 pm when an intense explosion shook the neighbourhood.
“We warned them multiple times, but they ignored us and continued their celebrations,” he said. The sudden noise caused the infant’s eyes and mouth to open wide, and it took time for her to settle.
The family has filed a complaint at the Kolavallur police station, demanding action against those responsible.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
