The baby was, however, unable to survive and died just hours after birth. Mermaid Syndrome is a rare condition where the baby is born with fused legs. The 23- year-old mother of the baby is reported to be out of danger. The baby was born at the Chittaranjan Deva Sadan Hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday. 

Being born with Mermaid Syndrome is very rare. As of now, only five such cases have been reported in the world and two of them have been reported from India. The first such case from India was reported last year in Uttar Pradesh. That baby also could not survive and died within minutes of being born.  

What causes this syndrome? Experts have said that lack of proper medication that is required at the time of pregnancy and improper blood circulation are some of the prime factors behind such a baby being born. While at the same time, some experts believe that environmental and genetic factors also play a part in such cases.  

A condition where the baby is born with partial or completely fused legs is technically known as Sirenomelia. Babies born with such conditions rarely survive as complications in organ development & functions start creeping in. The longest survivor of this syndrome has lived till 27 years of age. But she also survived only after her legs were separated through surgery (before she turned 1 and had to use either crutches or a wheelchair for the rest of her life.  

So how rare are these cases? As rare as are the cases of conjoined twins being born. The rate at present is 1 in 100,000. But there could be more such cases that go unreported and undocumented.