Hot iron rod to cure ailments has claimed the life of a nine-month-old child at Jadapara village of Kasakanga panchayat under Raighar block in Nabarangpur district.
The deceased was identified as Rupesh, son of Sukadeb Gond of Jadapara village. According to reports, Rupesh had a fever apart from cold and cough a few days ago.After coming to know about this, ASHA worker Sahanti Gond visited Sukadeb’s house and advised family members to shift the patient to hospital.
Unfortunately, the family members went for traditional healing practices to cure Rupesh. They called a traditional healer to their house to give hot iron treatment to Rupesh. However, seeing Rupesh being branded with hot iron, the ASHA worker immediately called an 108 ambulance.
As Rupesh’s health deteriorated, he was rushed to Hatabharandi Community Health Centre (CHC).
However, the family members allegedly took Rupesh away from the CHC without informing anyone. The doctor at the CHC also lodged a written complaint at Kundei police station in this regard.
Back home, the family members again got Rupesh treated with hot iron branding which is learnt to have led to serious burn injuries to which he succumbed.
