Mumbai: A four-year-old girl hanging precariously from the balcony grill of a third-floor apartment was miraculously rescued thanks to the quick thinking and courageous action of a young Malayali man from a neighboring building. The child, Meeha, who lives on the third floor of Anand Villa near Dosti, Vasai West, survived what could have been a fatal fall. Her rescuer, Babith Vyju (19), a college student originally from Chennankari, Nedumudi, Alappuzha, is now being widely praised for his bravery.
Meeha, the daughter of Krishnajith and Sumisha, natives of Thrissur, lives in Vasai with her grandmother and uncle while her parents are employed in the Gulf. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m., shortly after her grandmother had left the apartment, leaving the child inside.
Babith was standing outside the building chatting with friends when one of them noticed the child on the balcony. They saw Meeha had squeezed through the gap in the balcony grill and was hanging dangerously outside, on the verge of falling.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Babith immediately rushed to the third floor, but found the apartment locked from the outside. Without wasting a moment, he ran back downstairs, borrowed a bedsheet from a nearby house, and, with the help of his friend Mithil, stretched it beneath the balcony. They shouted to the frightened child, urging her to let go. Moments later, Meeha slipped and fell, but the two young men successfully caught her in the bedsheet, saving her life.
Although the child suffered a fracture to her left shoulder due to the impact, she escaped what could have been a tragic accident.
Speaking about the incident, Babith said:
“In emergencies like this, there is no time to hesitate. Many serious accidents happen because people delay taking action. When someone’s life is in danger, everyone should be ready to step in immediately, without worrying about personal inconvenience or circumstances.”
In recognition of his courageous act, St. Gonsalo Garcia College, where Babith is a student, honored him at a special function. Babith is the son of Vyju, a committee member of the Vasai Ayyappa Seva Samiti and a BJP worker. His timely intervention and presence of mind turned a near-tragedy into a remarkable story of courage and humanity.
