Cooch Behar, Dec. 2: A week-old girl was found on the streets of Mathabhanga town last night by three persons who handed over the baby to the subdivisional hospital in the nick of time, saving her from the jaws of death.

The baby has been abandoned either for being a girl or born out of wedlock, said Nedha Mondal, the subdivisional officer of Mathabhanga. “She is now under treatment at the hospital and I have already been approached by persons wanting to adopt her,” the subdivisional officer said.

Around 10pm yesterday, Sutku Barman, who is an ambulance driver, and two of his friends spotted a bundle lying in front of a roadside Kali temple beside the forest department’s office at Mathabhanga, 42km from here.

“We were walking along the road talking to each other when we spotted the bundle lying. A few dogs were sniffing around and we could also hear the cries of jackals nearby,” Sutku said.

A closer look revealed that there was a baby wrapped up in rags and was alive, Sutku said. “We immediately took the baby to the subdivisional hospital which is nearby. Had we not spotted the baby, it could have been killed and eaten by the dogs or by the jackals.”

Police were called at the hospital and recorded the youths’ statements before the baby was formally admitted to the health facility. Sutku said he and his friends bought milk and clothes for the baby last night and this morning.

Anuj Biswas, the superintendent of the hospital, said: “The baby was born around a week ago. We are providing her with all kinds of treatment.”

The nurses and the attendants were excited with the baby. They named her Ratri as the girl was discovered at night. “She is healthy, weighing 1.7kg, fair-complexioned and has beautiful features, but has caught cold because of the exposure. We are looking after her by turns,” said Minati Sharma, an attendant attached to the hospital.

Babulal Saha, a rice trader of Mathabhanga, approached the subdivisional officer today, express his wish to adopt the baby. “We have two sons. I and my wife want to raise a girl child and if the officer accepts my appeal, we will be grateful,” Saha said.