Polsara: In a shocking incident, a family at Mathura village under Polsara police limits in Ganjam district resorted to faith healing to revive a dead minor girl even after she was pronounced dead by doctors at the local hospital, late Monday night.
Shibani Rout, eight-year-old daughter of Khata Rout, had been suffering from fever for the last 10 days. Her health condition deteriorated after she was reportedly afflicted with small pox.
Family members, after coming to know about this, took her to nearby Baunsia, Ranipada and Balighai villages and got her treated by traditional and faith healers. However, she failed to recover and continued suffering from the illness.
Meanwhile, she became extremely weak due to lack of medical treatment. Clueless, family members rushed her to the Polsara hospital Monday, where doctors declared her brought dead.
However, family members refused to believe this and brought the body back home hoping she might regain her life if they take the help of a faith healer. They contacted a faith healer who assured them that she would come back to life if some rituals were performed at their home.
Family members made all preparations and performed the rituals late in the night. They began reciting some ‘mantras’ with folded hands hoping that the dead girl would regain her life while hundreds of villagers were waiting outside their house with baited breath to watch the ‘miracle’ to happen.
Acting on a tip-off, Polsara police rushed to the spot but watched the proceedings without intervening. Finally, the family members gave up after they saw no sign of life in the girl and cremated the body.
The incident has come at a time when the administration and police are sensitising the people against superstition and advising them to take medical help in case of sickness. However, villagers continue to believe in superstitions.
PNN