NEW DELHI: In a deeply disturbing incident, a stray dog was seen carrying the body of a newborn in its jaws near the toilet of a government hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow, early Saturday morning. The shocking scene was discovered by a security guard who managed to shoo the animal away and retrieve the body.The incident occurred at the civil hospital in Mhow, located around 25 kilometres from the Indore district headquarters. Hospital authorities and police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the tragedy.17-year-old girl suspected to have given birth in hospital toiletDr HR Verma, who is in charge of the hospital, said CCTV footage captured between 1.30 am and 2 am showed a young girl entering the hospital toilet. “The 17-year-old girl had been admitted around 9 pm on Friday, complaining of colic pain. Based on the footage and timeline, we suspect she delivered the baby in the toilet,” Verma said.Soon after the suspected delivery, the girl reportedly fled the hospital with an unidentified man, evading medical staff.Stillborn infant retrieved from dogOfficials believe the infant was stillborn and left in the toilet area, from where a stray dog picked up the body and carried it out. The security personnel noticed the dog and retrieved the body after chasing it away.“The body was sent for post-mortem examination on Saturday morning. Preliminary findings suggest a premature delivery, but we are awaiting the final autopsy report,” Dr Verma added.Police investigation ongoingLocal police have registered a case and initiated a probe into the incident. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and trying to trace the girl and the man who accompanied her.“We are fully cooperating with the police and will share all relevant CCTV clips and hospital records,” Verma said.