Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, September 10, 2025 - In a shocking incident, a new mother had put her 15 days old baby into the fridge and gone to sleep.
The bizarre incident took place in the Kurla area of Uttar Pradesh, Moradabad. The 23 year old mother had delivered the baby no more than a couple of weeks and was going through postpartum.
The incident took place last Friday. The baby boy was saved when his grandmother heard him crying, ran to the kitchen, and quickly took him out, PTI reported.
The grandmother rescued the baby before the situation could get worse.
The family said the baby was taken to the hospital right away, and doctors confirmed he was safe and stable.
The family's reaction to the whole situation came out to be more concerning than ever.
The young mother was accused by other family members for being under the influence of "evil forces".
The woman had been unwell since giving birth to her baby. When she placed the newborn in the fridge, her family first thought she was affected by “evil spirits” and tried performing rituals to help her, but nothing worked.
When her condition didn’t improve, the family took her to the Archna Raj Psychiatry and De-Addiction Centre, where psychiatrist Dr. Kartikeya Gupta diagnosed her with postpartum psychosis.
A doctor said she is currently receiving counselling and treatment.
Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is a critical mental health condition that requires immediate attention. It can distort a new mother’s sense of reality, leading to hallucinations, delusional thoughts, paranoia, or unusual behavior. In extreme situations, it may put both the mother and baby at risk of harm. 1
Postpartum psychosis can occur in anyone who has recently given birth. It most often appears within the first few days after delivery but can develop anytime within the first six weeks .1
While the mother is still ongoing treatment, the baby is in stable conditions.
Aaisha Alvi, author of the book A Mom Like That: A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis, and a mother who experienced postpartum psychosis twice, says: "Delusions and/or hallucinations can rapidly change when you have postpartum psychosis. Even a non-violent delusion like believing you can fly can lead to tragic consequences."
Sadly, the Moradabad case is not an isolated occurrence. In July 2025, a 25-year-old mother in Nelamangala near Bengaluru drowned her 38-day-old baby in a water pot. Investigators revealed that she had been battling postpartum depression while also facing financial hardship and marital problems. Her actions, driven by untreated mental health struggles, underline the dangers of delayed diagnosis and lack of social support.
In the same month, another tragic case surfaced in Bengaluru, where a premature infant lost his life after his mother placed him in a pot of boiling water. Reports indicated that the mother, distressed by the baby’s feeding difficulties and constant crying, was suffering from postpartum depression.
A recent systematic review found that nearly 22 percent of Indian women experience postpartum depression, and in some cases, symptoms can escalate toward self-harm or harm to the newborn if not addressed promptly. 2
Reference:
1. Cleveland Clinic. "Postpartum Psychosis: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment." Cleveland Clinic, last modified September 11, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24152-postpartum-psychosis.
2. Upadhyay, Rupali P., et al. “Postpartum Depression in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Affective Disorders 398 (2024): 119–131. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10927066/.
(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)