UP: Stray bullet hits girl playing on rooftop; family mistakes injury for fall; saved after 5-hour surgery

LUCKNOW: A three-year-old girl sustained a stray bullet injury to her head while playing on the rooftop of her house in Lucknow, triggering panic in the neighbourhood and leaving police grappling with unanswered questions about the origin of the bullet.

The incident occurred in Bastauli village in Indiranagar. The child, Lakshmi, daughter of Ramesh, was playing under a tin shed on the terrace along with her two brothers, when a sudden loud bang was heard. Moments later, Lakshmi began bleeding profusely from her head.


Family members initially mistook the injury for a fall or impact-related wound and rushed her to a private hospital, where doctors stitched the wound and sent her home. However, her condition deteriorated later in the night, prompting the family to take her to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Doctors there suspected a gunshot injury but referred her to the KGMU Trauma Centre due to the critical nature of her condition and lack of available beds.

A CT scan at the trauma centre confirmed a bullet lodged in the child's skull. Doctors performed a nearly five-hour-long surgery and successfully removed the projectile. She is currently admitted to the ICU and is reported to be out of danger.

The family later noticed a bullet mark and a puncture in the tin shed, indicating that the bullet pierced the metal sheet, significantly reducing its force and likely saving the child's life. Her father has lodged a complaint at the Ghazipur police station.

ACP, Ghazipur, Anindya Vikram Singh, said that police teams have inspected the rooftop, questioned neighbours, and begun scanning nearby CCTV footage. Preliminary inquiries suggest no licensed firearms in the immediate vicinity, leaving investigators uncertain whether the shot was fired during celebratory firing or from another location. Further investigation is underway.

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