Balaghat/Bhopal, Aug 14 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior Congress leader Umang Singhar on Friday visited the Baiga tribal-dominated villages in Balaghat district amid reports of a mysterious illness among children and alleged that 19 children had died in the affected areas.
Singhar visited Kundekasa, Bondari and Korka villages, met sick children undergoing treatment and interacted with their families.
He also sought details about the treatment and healthcare facilities available to them.
Congress leaders have claimed that 19 children have died in the affected villages over the past two-and-a-half months.
However, the district health department has so far confirmed eight deaths.
Singhar demanded immediate health screening of all residents in the affected villages, particularly children, along with free treatment, proper nutrition and safe drinking water.
“The state government should immediately screen every person, particularly children, in the affected villages and provide free treatment, proper nutrition and safe drinking water,” the LoP said.
He also demanded an impartial inquiry into the deaths and sought financial assistance for families who have lost children.
He alleged that the state government was trying to hide the actual number of deaths.
“Today, the Chief Minister (Mohan Yadav) is taking out a Tiranga Yatra, but he does not have time to wipe the tears of these tribal families and save the lives of innocent children,” Singhar said.
The visit came as health authorities intensified surveillance in the affected villages.
Civil Surgeon Nilay Jain said that 39 children are currently admitted to the Balaghat district hospital, including 27 in the child ward and 12 in the ICU.
Some ICU patients are in critical condition.
As many as 23 children were admitted to the hospital on the night of August 13, officials said.
The exact cause of the illness has not yet been established.
Residents have raised concerns over contaminated drinking water and malnutrition, but authorities have not confirmed these as the cause of the illness or deaths.
Balaghat Collector Kumar Satyam visited Ghummur, Kundekasa, Korka, Bondari, Machhurda, Dharamshala and Garhita villages and reviewed door-to-door health surveys and screening being conducted by health teams.
He directed the Public Health Engineering Department to regularly clean hostel water tanks, maintain hygiene around hand pumps and ensure chlorination of drinking water.
The Women and Child Development Department was also asked to focus on nutrition and health check-ups of children at Anganwadi centres.
The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission has taken cognisance of the reported deaths and sought reports from the Collector and Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Paresh Uplap.
The Collector has been given two weeks to submit the report, while the CMHO has been asked to submit it within a week.
–IANS
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