Infant Dies In Madhya Pradesh After Being Jabbed 51 Times With Hot Iron Rod To Treat Pneumonia: Report

A 3-month-old infant died after her parents' claimed superstitious beliefs caused a delay in proper medical treatment. The baby was allegedly branded 51 times with a hot iron rod as a treatment.

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In Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district, a 3-month-old girl suffering from pneumonia was jabbed 51 times with a hot rod to treat an illness, as per the media reports. 

The child's health deteriorated, and she was eventually sent to Shahdol Medical College, where she died during treatment. Her body, which had been buried, will be removed for a postmortem tomorrow, NDTV reported citing officials.

When the women and child development officials arrived at the hospital, they discovered that the tragic example of blind faith occurred 15 days ago, and the kid was not treated for pneumonia, which exacerbated her condition, according to Shahdol Collector Vandana Vaidh, as stated in the report.

Ruchita Kol, a three-month-old newborn from Singhpur Kathoutia village, who was suffering from pneumonia and had difficulties breathing, was beaten 51 times with hot iron rods by a witch doctor in the name of treatment, which worsened her health, Free Press Journal reported. 

The family then took her to Medical College Shahdol for treatment, where she died, as per the FPJ report.

According to Shahdol Collector Vandana Vaidh, the infant did not die from pneumonia or burn injuries, as stated in the report. 

"A local Anganwadi worker advised her mother not to poke the child with a hot rod," Vaidh was quoted as saying by NDTV. 

Poking hot rods is becoming fatal in tribal-dominated areas of Madhya Pradesh, according to Dr. Vikrant Bhuria, President of the Youth Congress. "Being poked with bars can lead to death, it's a way to alleviate pain, but the problem is that the infection can supersede, which can result in death," he said, as per the report. 

"Such practices continue to be rampant, and I suggest that the Chief Medical Officer of the area file a complaint and take strong action," stated BJP spokesperson Dr. Hitesh Vajpayee, according to the report. 

(With Inputs From Agencies)