28-1-2024 (NEW DELHI) Tragedy struck as a 5-year-old boy lost his life after being submerged in the Ganges River in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, northern India. The incident, reported by the local Indian media outlet NDTV website on Jan. 25, unfolded as the family attempted to cure the boy’s blood cancer through a ritualistic dip in the sacred river.
In a distressing video clip, the boy’s parents can be seen fervently praying while the boy’s aunt forcefully immersed him underwater, driven by superstition and the hope for a miraculous cure. The child, in the final stages of leukemia, tragically succumbed to the icy waters of the river.
The family, hailing from Delhi, embarked on their journey to Haridwar around 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 24. Eyewitnesses, including the taxi driver who transported them, recounted the grim scene. The boy’s frail condition was evident, with reports indicating that doctors in Delhi had ceased treatment, leaving the family desperate for alternative remedies.
Concerned passersby, witnessing the boy’s prolonged submersion, pleaded with the family to cease the ritual. However, their appeals fell on deaf ears. As the situation escalated, bystanders intervened, forcibly rescuing the child from the water. Shockingly, the boy’s aunt responded aggressively, attempting to thwart the rescue efforts. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the child was pronounced dead by medical professionals.
Authorities, led by Mr. Chawantantra Kumar, Police Commissioner of Haridwar, revealed that the family had pursued treatment for the boy’s cancer at a prestigious hospital in Delhi. However, after several doctors expressed their inability to save the child, the family turned to the belief in the Ganges River’s healing powers.
Presently, the boy’s parents and aunt are under police custody for further interrogation, as investigations into the tragic incident continue.
