Gorakhpur baby could be world's 7 billionth child

Babita, 20, became the proud mother of a baby girl at the district hospital in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, at 12.20 am on Monday.

Her yet-to-be-named daughter may have already created history -- she could be the world's seven billionth baby!

Surrounded by relatives, Babita cradled her first born, born through normal procedure.

Her husband Subhash, 28, is a daily wage worker. The couple hails from Bhiti Khoria village that falls under Gorakhpur district.

According to the United Nations, the world's seven billionth baby -- expected to be born today -- could be an Indian child.

According to the UN's calculations, the baby is most likely to be born in Uttar Pradesh. Of the 51 children born in India every minute, 11 are born in its most populous state.

Babita's daughter could be one of the symbolic "seven billionth" babies born across the world on Monday, as part of UN's seven billion global population projection.

Reportage: Nishi Tiwari in Gorakhpur

...

After Babita's daughter, the Gorakhpur district hospital has already witnessed nine more deliveries.

Neelam Tiwari, 25, gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 1.36 am.

Her husband Vishwambhar, a 31-year-old teacher with the Basic Shiksha Parishad, beamed at his son and said that the entire family is really happy as a boy has arrived in the family. The couple hail from Bargadwa village, adjoining Gorakhpur.

Vijayalakshmi, 22, gave birth to her first child, a baby girl, at 6.55 am. Her husband Vipin is a resident of Sahjanwa village.

According to hospital records, as many as 10,000 children are born every month in Gorakhpur, which has one of the highest birth rates in the country.