Dehradun: Tragedy struck in Uttarakhand‘s Haridwar as a five-year-old terminally-ill boy lost his life due to superstition and misguided hopes for a miracle cure. The child, who was battling blood cancer, was taken by his parents from Delhi to Haridwar, with the belief that the holy waters of the Ganga would bring about his recovery.
However, the attempt to seek healing in the freezing river during the harsh winter proved fatal, according to the police.
The family, consisting of the parents and another woman, possibly identified as the boy’s aunt, embarked on their journey to Haridwar around 9 am. The cab driver who transported them mentioned that the child appeared extremely unwell, and the family informed him that the doctors in Delhi had given up on his treatment.
A disturbing video surfaced, revealing the parents chanting prayers while the aunt submerged the boy in the river. Concerned bystanders noticed the prolonged underwater ordeal and intervened, forcibly bringing the child out. In a shocking turn of events, the aunt responded aggressively and attempted to attack those rescuing the boy. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the child was declared dead by the doctors.
Another video captured the aunt sitting beside the lifeless body, expressing unwavering belief that the child would come back to life.
Haridwar city police chief Swantantra Kumar shared that the family had informed them about the child’s cancer treatment in a reputed Delhi hospital. Allegedly, the doctors had given up on any possibility of saving the child, leading the family to place their faith in the healing powers of the Ganga. “We are receiving reports from the Delhi hospital, but it seems that they brought the boy here with the belief that a ritual bath in the Ganga would cure him,” stated Kumar.
The parents and the aunt have been taken into police custody for questioning in connection with the tragic incident.
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