Blood Cancer-Stricken 5-Year-Old Boy Dies After Parents Seek 'Miracle' By Dipping Him In Ganga River

A five-year-old boy, who had been diagnosed with blood cancer allegedly lost his life after being submerged in the Ganga river for around 15 minutes in Haridwar.

The tragic incident was reportedly orchestrated by the boy's parents and aunt, who believed that a "miracle" in the holy Ganga could cure the incurable disease.

Seeking a miraculous cure for the child's blood cancer, the parents took him to the banks of Har-Ki-Pauri. According to SP (city) Swatantra Kumar, the superstitious parents believed that a Gangasnan, a dip in the holy Ganga, would cure their son. He explained, "The aunt of the boy dipped him in front of his parents. The child initially screamed, but the cries ceased later. Bystanders rushed the child to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead."

A video circulating on social media allegedly shows the boy's aunt, Sudha, immersing him in the river multiple times as his parents recited mantras. After being taken to the hospital, the boy was declared dead on arrival. The police have detained Sudha, along with the boy's parents, Rajkumar and Shanti.

Hailing from northeast Delhi's Sonia Vihar, the family claimed they took the boy to AIIMS-Delhi, where professionals advised them to return home due to the advanced and incurable stage of the cancer. Despite medical advice, the family traveled to Haridwar, hoping for a miracle.

Eyewitnesses from Kurukshetra, Haryana, observed the boy being repeatedly submerged in the river around 2:00 pm on Monday. Describing the distressing scene, one witness stated, "I screamed, and then a man pulled the child out of his aunt's grasp with force." Despite efforts, the boy did not appear to be alive, and irate pilgrims expressed anger towards the family before the police could intervene.

SP Kumar revealed that the family's decision for divine intervention was in response to the child's health issues. The boy's autopsy indicated that drowning was not the cause of death. Another senior police officer mentioned an ongoing investigation into whether the child was already deceased when dipped in the river or if he succumbed to the cold.