LUCKNOW, India, Sept 7: A two-month-old infant died in northern India after being taken by monkeys and later found drowned in a water drum, local media reported Sunday.

The incident occurred in the village of Surajpur, Uttar Pradesh, when the animals reportedly entered the family’s home and carried the child away as relatives were engaged in daily chores.

Police said the parents, after noticing their baby was missing, began searching frantically and eventually heard faint cries from the rooftop. The infant was discovered in a water-filled drum and rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Authorities conducted a preliminary inquiry and sent the body for postmortem examination. The tragedy has left the community deeply shaken, with residents calling for urgent action to address recurring issues of aggressive monkey behavior in the area.

Similar incidents have been recorded in recent years. In 2022, another two-month-old infant in Uttar Pradesh was dragged from a terrace and thrown into a water tank by monkeys. CCTV footage captured the moment, and experts at the time suggested maternal behavior by a female monkey could have played a role.

Across India and parts of Asia, human-monkey conflict has been rising in urban and rural areas. Monkeys have been reported entering homes, workplaces, and public spaces, sometimes causing injuries and damage. In one case in eastern India, a grey langur entered a railway office and mimicked staff using a computer.

Elsewhere, attacks have also been reported internationally. In Tanzania, a newborn was snatched from his mother while being breastfed outside the family home, while in China’s Chongqing Municipality, a toddler sustained facial injuries in 2022 after being dragged away by a monkey before being rescued.

Local authorities in Surajpur said they are reviewing measures to mitigate monkey-related risks and protect residents from further harm.