9 kids die in Balaghat tribal belt amid unexplained illness since June
Nine children have died since June 26 amid an unexplained illness reported in tribal areas of Balaghat district, with health authorities yet to determine the exact cause of the deaths.
A joint team of doctors from Jabalpur Medical College and Balaghat visited the affected areas to assess the situation. According to the medical team, affected children have shown symptoms including pneumonia, anaemia, dehydration, fever, itching, malaria and signs of kidney involvement.
Samples collected from the affected areas have been sent to a laboratory in Pune for testing. Health officials said the exact cause of the illness would be established only after the laboratory reports are received. The Health Department has not indicated when the reports are expected.
Civil Surgeon Dr Nilay Jain said all the affected children belonged to villages under Adori and Machhurda gram panchayats. Between June 26 and July 22, five children — siblings Lamanin and Sahil from Bondari, along with Pooja, Sachin and Preeti from Kundekasa — died. Two more deaths were reported later, with Arvind dying on August 6 and Mangli Markam on August 8.
Priyanka Dhurve was admitted to the district hospital on August 9 and died on the night of August 11.
Doctors said the child was suffering from multiple health complications and that efforts were made to save her.
The continuing deaths have raised concern over the health situation in the tribal belt. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh has written to Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav seeking an immediate state-level investigation into the deaths.
Singh has also demanded strict action against officials found responsible and financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased children.
He further urged the government to airlift critically ill children to major hospitals in Nagpur, Raipur or Bhopal and bear the entire cost of their treatment. With the cause of the illness still undetermined, health authorities are awaiting the Pune laboratory reports to establish whether the deaths are linked to a common infection, disease or other medical factors.
The situation remains under close observation as medical teams continue to assess affected children and the overall health conditions in the area.
