Mysuru: A five-year-old boy allegedly died after swallowing a small plastic toy ball reportedly found inside a packet of Kurkure snacks in Mysuru district on Saturday. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the child’s death.
Child allegedly swallowed plastic toy
The deceased has been identified as Mukund Mayur (5), the only son of Santosh and Aishwarya and the grandson of former Gram Panchayat vice-president Gouramma and Shankar Nayak.
According to preliminary information, the boy allegedly found a small plastic gift ball inside a packet of Kurkure snacks and accidentally swallowed it.
The plastic object is suspected to have become lodged in his throat, causing suffocation.
Police register case
Following the incident, a case was registered at the Hunsur Rural Police Station.
Police have begun an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and verify the circumstances under which the child came into possession of the plastic toy. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.
Authorities are also expected to examine whether the object was part of the snack packaging or had entered the packet through some other means.
Family in shock
Mukund’s death has left his family and residents of the locality in deep grief.
The child was the only son of his parents, and news of the tragedy spread quickly through the village, drawing condolences from neighbours and local residents.
Earlier choking incident in Hunsur
The incident comes months after another tragic choking death reported from the Hunsur region.
Earlier this year, a six-and-a-half-month-old infant, Chinmay Gowda, died after choking on a dried hibiscus flower kept for worship at his home in Doddahejjoor village.
According to reports, the infant was playing with an elder sibling when he picked up part of the dried flower placed near the entrance of the house and put it into his mouth. When the sibling attempted to remove it, the child accidentally swallowed the piece.
The infant was first taken to a hospital in Hanagodu for initial treatment before being shifted to a private hospital in Mysuru for advanced care. Despite medical efforts, the baby could not be saved.
The two incidents have once again highlighted the importance of keeping small objects away from young children, as they pose a serious choking hazard.