A 21-year-old bride-to-be from Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district tragically died after reportedly falling seriously ill during her haldi ceremony just days before her wedding.
The deceased, identified as Rakhi, was scheduled to get married on April 26.
Health worsened after haldi ritual
According to family members, Rakhi participated in the haldi ceremony at her home near Kasrawad bus stand on April 22 when turmeric paste and chiksa, a fragrant substance mixed with turmeric, were applied during the ritual.
Soon afterwards, her throat reportedly began swelling, her lips became puffed up, and red rashes appeared across her body.
Her father, Gaju Nath, said the family rushed her to the district hospital during the night, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit.
The following day, she was referred to MY Hospital in Indore after doctors reportedly cited lack of specialised equipment to examine her throat condition.
Family alleges treatment difficulties
The family later shifted Rakhi to a private hospital in Indore, where she reportedly underwent treatment before being advised to return to MY Hospital due to high medical expenses.
“We were taking our daughter back to MY Hospital when she died on the way,” her father alleged.
Ironically, none of the other people who attended the ceremony reportedly experienced similar symptoms.
Probe launched after tragic death
The day scheduled for Rakhi’s wedding mandap ceremony eventually turned into the day of her funeral.
No postmortem examination was conducted before the last rites.
Khargone District Health Department has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
District authorities have also directed food safety officials to collect turmeric and spice samples from shops in and around Kasrawad for laboratory testing.