Nabarangpur: Branding has claimed another life in this district with a 28-day-old baby boy of Chandiligetuguda under Papadahandi block being the latest victim of the superstitious practice.
According to reports, the baby boy of Ram Jani and Bharati Jani was suffering from stomachache and cough for a week. The boy’s parents had his health checked by a paediatrician at Nabarangpur. However, there was no improvement in his condition.
The baby’s mother branded him with a hot bangle Thursday to cure him of the ailment. The infant’s condition deteriorated due to this ‘treatment’ and the couple admitted him to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) at 9 pm.
Two hours later, the baby succumbed to the injuries caused by branding. Police reached the spot and started an investigation.
This is the second death due to branding in a week in the district. A six-month-old of Khutiguda under Dangara panchayat had died in a similar manner June 28. Nanda, son of Nakul Bhatra and Janaka Bhatra, of Khutiguda village was suffering from fever. Instead of admitting him to a hospital, the baby’s mother branded him 25 times with a hot bangle. After the baby’s condition worsened, family members admitted him to Dabugaon community health centre and later shifted him to the DHH where he died June 28.
These incidents have triggered resentment among the locals who flayed the administration for not creating awareness about the harmful effects of superstition in rural pockets.
While most people in the rural areas resort to branding and other traditional healing systems in the absence of money for medical treatment, others prefer them due to lack of awareness.
PNN
