Thane, Jan 26 (PTI): A two-year-old child survived a fall from the 13th floor flat of a high-rise in Dombivali in Thane thanks to the alertness of a man, with a video of the act going viral on social media and drawing widespread praise from netizens who hailed him as a real life hero.

The incident took place last week in Devichapada locality and the child sustained only minor injuries, officials said.

In the video, Bhavesh Mhatre can be seen running to catch the child, and though he failed to grasp her completely, his action broke the fall and lessened the impact of the child hitting the ground.

Eyewitnesses said the child fell while playing in the balcony of her 13th floor flat.

"She slipped, was hanging precariously for sometime at the edge of the balcony and then fell," an eyewitness said.

Mhatre said he was passing by the building and didn't think twice before moving forward since he was determined to save the child's life.

"There is no religion greater than courage and humanity," he told reporters.

A civic official hailed Mhatre's act and said there were plans to felicitate him publicly.

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Hassan: Two women working in a coffee plantation in Belur taluk were grievously injured in a wild elephant attack while on the way to work on Monday morning. The women are being treated at the Hassan District Hospital.

The injured women, Hema (38) and Geetha (40), were employed at the Bikkodu Estate and were going to work when they were attacked. The elephant reportedly lifted one of the women with its trunk before dashing her aside and also trampled the workers.

As a result, the women sustained severe injuries, Geetha being injured on her stomach and head and Hema on her face and right hand. The workers were taken immediately to the Belur government hospital and later shifted to the Hassan District Hospital.

The forest officers have visited the hospital and inquired about the health condition of Hema and Geetha. The farmers and coffee plantation owners in Bikkodu and nearby areas have again expressed worry about the problem of wild elephant attack in the area. They have also urged the Forest Department to take necessary steps in the matter for the safety of the residents.