Baripada, Dec 31: Rasgovindpur police in Mayurbhanj district rescued a three-year-old girl from a forest near Dhilajagatpur village under Gamharda police limits this evening. Locals spotted the child alone in the forest, rescued her, and informed the police. They also provided her with food before the authorities arrived.

After being brought in by the police, it was discovered that the girl belongs to Karanjia village under Basta police station in Balasore district. Authorities are investigating how the child, only three years old, ended up in a forest approximately 20 km away in Mayurbhanj.

The forest is known to be frequented by elephants, and it is unusual for anyone to be there. The circumstances of how the child reached the forest are under joint investigation by the police of both Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts.