In the third case in last three months, a 29-day-old infant died after he was branded with a hot iron rod by a quack forcuring a stomach ailment.
The baby’s parents Dhanar Gouda and Gomati Gouda from B Maliguda village in Nandahandi block took the infant to the local quack of Charamula village after he stopped breast feeding and cried continuously. However, after his condition failed to improve, theybrought him to the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) on Thursday, where Dr Priti Nayak declared him dead.
Despite several measures taken by the district administration to create health awareness, cases of baby killing due to the barbaric practice are shockingly on the rise in the district. Four fresh cases came to light in the district one from Kenduguda village under Papadahandi block and three cases in Bangapali village underPujariguda panchayat under this block.
So far, three children have lost their lives in Nabarangpur DHH due to branding and another 12 were discharged after primary treatment at the hospital. However, several cases don’t get noticed as parents in interior pockets are reluctant to visit hospitals, reports said