Not enough to eat, 2 die in Bhilwara

Two cases of malnutrition deaths have come to light in Bhilwara district. They were both alms-seekers. Their other family members are also ailing, writes Mahesh Agarwal.

Two cases of malnutrition deaths have come to light in Bhilwara district. They were both alms-seekers. Their other family members are also ailing.

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Two cases of malnutrition deaths have come to light in Bhilwara district.
Government officials say the two persons, belonging to Narayanpura Kheda village, 250 km south of Jaipur, died due to ailments caused by chronic undernourishment.

While Nanda Bheel (45) died around 45 days ago in the village, virtually without treatment, Kamla Bheel (40) passed away on May 7. They were both alms-seekers.

Kamla was admitted to government hospital on April 27, and doctors said she showed symptoms of chronic malnutrition and there was evidence of her using painkillers over a long time. No post-mortem was done in her case after her death.

They both exhibited symptoms such as legs becoming deformed, liquid oozing from the limbs, and body sores. Several cases of the disease have been reported in the village over the past three months.
Kamla’s husband, Maangu Bheel, said, “Except for one of my sons, all my eight family members have been ill for the past two months. I don’t get ration, and after March there were no jobs under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.”

The district administration sent Chief Medical and Health Officer Ramesh Samria to the village on May 8.

He referred 18 patients to the hospital for severe malnourishment.
On Monday, five more people were admitted to the government hospital.
Doctors are paying special attention to their diet.

Sub-Divisional Officer Dinesh Sharma said about 24 people were still in hospital with malnutrition characteristics. A team of doctors is treating them.

District Collector Manju Rajpal sent officials of the social justice department to the village to survey the families’ economic conditions and get them registered for old-age pension, pension for widows and other welfare schemes.