Source Credit: NDTV
A one‐month‐old baby from Phundelpada in Odisha got caught in a wild dance with fire. His family thought a sneaky spirit was behind his stubborn fever and endless cries for ten days. They used an old ritual like a strange recipe for healing—pressing a smoking iron rod against his skin almost 40 times, mostly on his belly and head. The heated metal left burn marks like bizarre tattoos on his fragile body.
The baby’s condition took a sharp plunge after the ritual. His family raced him to Umerkote Sub‐Divisional Hospital in a mad dash. The medics jumped into action and steadied his teetering state. Dr. Santosh Kumar Panda, the local medical lead, casually mentioned that such risky, old-school methods still pop up in some hidden corners.
A grim moment like this has stirred local health crews in Chandahandi. They plan to roll out a down‐to‐earth campaign against these fiery traditions. Their idea is simple—get folks to ditch dangerous rituals and pick proper medicine to care for little ones. Sometimes, the old ways burn too bright, and honest care should light the way.
