Madhya Pradesh: Cholera Kills 4 Out Of 6 Child Deaths At Indore Ashram, Contaminated Water Identified As Source

Four children died from cholera at an NGO-operated ashram in the Indore district of Madhya Pradesh due to contaminated water.

Four out of the six children who lost their lives within a week at an NGO-operated ashram in the Indore district of Madhya Pradesh succumbed to cholera, a senior official said on Friday. Ashish Singh, collector of Indore, stated that the management of Shri Yugpurush Dham Bal Ashram, where the deaths occurred, was delayed in quickly informing the district administration about the infection.

"Based on a test of water samples from the ashram, we can say cholera was the cause of death of four out of six children. It has been proved that cholera infection spread because of contaminated water at the ashram. The water there is supplied through tankers. The cause of the other two deaths cannot be said for sure," Indore's collector said, news agency PTI reported.

He also mentioned that there was a water purifier with reverse osmosis technology at the ashram but it needs to be verified if the device was functional during the cholera outbreak. "If the ashram management had informed the administration about the first case in time, fewer children would have fallen ill. Perhaps, we could have saved one or two lives. This mistake has definitely taken place on the part of the ashram," Singh said, as quoted by PTI.

Investigating Panel Probes Child Deaths At Indore Ashram

An official from the investigating panel disclosed that a doctor at the district hospital had identified two children with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea on June 27. However, the ashram management did not notify the administration about the due children. "It was only when the administration's team reached the ashram for a check on July 2 that the two children were hospitalised. These children are mentally weak and cannot speak about their ordeal to others," the official added.

As per an official, four children died at the ashram between July 1-2 due to vomiting and diarrhea, while one child passed away on June 30 due to a seizure. "Our high-level inquiry committee comprising senior officials and private sector doctors is working transparently. The probe has revealed the ashram hid the information of only one child. This case is also being probed by our panel," the official further added, PTI reported. 

About the 60 children admitted to the Government Chacha Nehru Children's Hospital in the city after the cholera outbreak at the ashram, the official confirmed that their conditions were improving. "Twelve children, after recovery, have been referred to a government ashram in Pardeshipura area. Twenty more children are expected to be discharged from the hospital soon," the official said.