Toddler rescued from hotel in Kochi after distress alert; handed over to CWC care

Kochi: A one-year-old child was rescued from a couple which was under the influence of alcohol at a hotel in Kaloor here, officials said on Thursday.

According to officials of the Ernakulam District Child Welfare Committee (CWC), police received information two days ago that a child was in severe distress while staying with a man and a woman at a hotel near Kaloor.

When police and CWC officials reached the hotel, they found the two adults heavily intoxicated and the child in distress, allegedly after not being fed properly, officials said.

Police immediately took the child into protective custody and handed him over to CWC authorities.

On Wednesday, the 21-year-old woman from Palakkad and the 24-year-old man from Malappuram approached the CWC seeking custody of the child.

However, they failed to produce documents establishing parenthood or any marriage certificate, officials said.

Citing concerns about the child's welfare if returned to the woman without verification, the CWC decided to transfer the boy child to its counterpart in Palakkad, as the woman is from the district.

The child was handed over to officials of the Palakkad CWC on Wednesday evening.

CWC officials said the child will remain under care at the Palakkad CWC centre and can be claimed only after the parents produce the required documents and satisfy authorities regarding proper care arrangements.