Jamshedpur: Two minor girls died after their families allegedly relied on exorcism and home remedies instead of seeking timely medical treatment in West Singhbhum district, officials said on Wednesday.Lata Kisku, 12, and Deepika Murmu, 7, residents of Pahardiha village in Anandpur block, had been suffering from high fever and fatigue since July 25. They died on Tuesday.Their fathers, Arnesh Kisku and Subin Murmu, told reporters that the girls had not been taken to a hospital and were treated with home remedies and traditional rituals.Following the deaths, the health department sent a medical team to the village. Blood samples from 46 residents were tested, and 7 were found positive for malaria. Those infected included Lata’s father and Deepika’s 10-year-old sister, Seermauti. All seven patients were referred to Manoharpur community health centre for treatment.Goilkera CHC in-charge Dr Jaishree Kiran said the girls had shown symptoms of jaundice. She said detailed medical examinations would be required to determine whether they had also contracted malaria. Pahardiha falls under the jurisdiction of Goilkera CHC.The health department has started sanitation, cleaning and fogging operations in Pahardiha and adjoining villages to check the spread of vector-borne diseases.In a separate incident, a 35-year-old CRPF jawan died of cerebral malaria at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur on Wednesday.Pintu Kumar, who was posted at the CRPF camp in Musaboni, East Singhbhum, was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday after his condition deteriorated. Tests confirmed cerebral malaria, and he died early on Wednesday despite treatment.District surveillance officer Dr Asad said Kumar had tested positive for malaria five days earlier and was initially treated at the CRPF camp’s health facility. He was shifted to MGMMCH after his condition worsened.
