Ri-Bhoi: In a shocking incident, a newborn baby was found buried alive in the Mawhati area of Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district and rescued by a group of schoolchildren, officials said on Thursday.

According to sources, the children noticed something unusual on the ground while passing through the area. On closer inspection, they discovered the infant buried under the soil. Acting quickly, they rescued the baby and rushed the newborn to Mawhati Primary Health Centre for emergency treatment.

Medical officials said the infant was in critical condition when brought to the health centre. After initial treatment, the baby was referred to Civil Hospital in Nongpoh, where it is currently undergoing intensive care under close medical supervision.

The incident came to light after a video of the rescue went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and concern among residents.

Authorities have taken cognisance of the case and are expected to launch a detailed investigation to find out who was responsible for abandoning and burying the newborn. Police are also examining the viral video and collecting local inputs as part of the probe.

Officials said a suo motu cognisable case has been registered, and further details are awaited as the infant’s condition continues to be monitored.