In a tragic incident, a one-and-a-half year old baby died of choking while she was being fed at a daycare centre near Vadavalli in Coimbatore, on Wednesday.

According to the police, the incident happened when the victim, R. Krithika, was being fed with rice by a helper at the day care centre near the Marudamalai Main Road.

Krithika was immediately rushed to a private hospital after she began to choke and gag while she was being fed. But she was pronounced “brought dead” by the doctors at the hospital.

Krithika was the daughter of a lathe worker named K. Ranjith Kumar. The baby’s mother was working in a mill in Coimbatore.

A post mortem was conducted at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctors confirmed that she died due to lack of air as her trachea was blocked with rice balls which were a bit hard.

The Vadavalli police have registered a case and are investigating.