Surveillance Tightened After Mysterious Deaths of 5 Children in Salumbar Trigger Panic; Probe Ordered

Jaipur, April 7 (IANS) Surveillance has been intensified and precautionary measures scaled up to prevent further casualties after panic gripped two villages, namely Ghata and Lalpura, in Rajasthan’s Salumbar district, as five children died within a span of six days due to a suspected unidentified illness.

The deaths, reported from the Lasadiya region, have triggered an urgent response from the state government, with medical teams rushing to the affected areas and a detailed investigation underway, said officials on Tuesday.

According to initial reports, the children complained of mild fever and weakness before their condition deteriorated. Despite being taken to nearby health facilities and hospitals in Dhariyawad, Salumbar, and Udaipur, they could not be saved.

Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma directed officials to immediately assess the ground situation, ascertain the cause of deaths, and implement preventive measures to curb any possible spread of disease.

Following these directions, the Department of Medical and Health has constituted a team of experts from RNT Medical College, Udaipur.

The team has reached the affected villages and is conducting a thorough investigation, including the collection of blood samples and field assessments.

Chief Secretary V. Srinivas reviewed the situation via video conference and instructed officials to maintain constant surveillance and ensure swift action. Principal Secretary (Medical & Health) Gayatri Rathore said that health teams have been deployed across the affected villages and surrounding areas to conduct intensive screening of children, especially those showing symptoms of fever.

She directed that immediate treatment be provided to symptomatic children, critical cases be referred to district or medical college hospitals without delay, and preventive measures such as anti-larval activities, fogging, and source reduction be carried out to check mosquito-borne diseases. Door-to-door surveys are also being conducted to identify any new cases and contain the situation.

Sub-Divisional Officer Dinesh Acharya, along with medical teams, visited the villages and interacted with affected families. Samples from children and their relatives are being collected to determine the exact cause of the illness.

However, in one instance, family members of a deceased child objected to sample collection, citing previous inconclusive reports from hospitals. Officials are continuing efforts to counsel residents and ensure cooperation.

Villagers have also highlighted serious infrastructure challenges, including poor road conditions between Lasadiya and nearby areas, which delay access to medical care.

Additionally, weak mobile network connectivity in Ghata and Lalpura hampers timely communication during emergencies.

The Health Department, meanwhile, has advised residents to maintain proper hygiene, drink boiled or clean water and seek immediate medical attention in case of fever or related symptoms. Authorities stated that the exact cause of the illness will be known only after detailed reports are received.

Meanwhile, surveillance has been intensified and precautionary measures scaled up to prevent further casualties.

--IANS