A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in the Dalit colony of Balajiraopet, Kaluvai Mandal, when the unchecked faith of a family and the negligence of a Church pastor led to the untimely death of an eight-year-old girl, Bhavyashree. The child, who was suffering from a brain tumor, was denied medical care in favor of a 40-day fasting and prayer ritual, believing that divine healing would save her.
Bhavyashree’s parents, Lakshmi and her husband, both watchmen in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, had sought medical treatment for their daughter, consulting doctors in both Nellore and Tirupati. The doctors advised immediate brain surgery, but the family, already struggling with financial limitations and concerns about surgical risks, hesitated to proceed. Under the influence of relatives and a pastor’s assurances, the family abandoned medical treatment and chose prayer and fasting at a church in Adurupalli village, hoping for a miracle. Despite Bhavyashree’s deteriorating health, the pastor reportedly dismissed medical intervention, encouraging them to continue fasting and praying.
Tragically, Bhavyashree passed away early Monday morning, her life claimed by the lack of timely medical care. This incident raises alarm about the exploitation of faith by religious leaders, as well as the growing danger of relying solely on prayer for health issues. The Legal Rights Protection Forum has filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) against Calvary Ministries and its leaders for their role in the child’s death. Medical experts, like Dr. Jai Sandesh from Seva Bharathi Hospitals, Hyderabad, have called for criminal action against institutions promoting miracle healings.
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