2 sisters die of mysterious disease in Reasi

Devinder Thakur
Reasi, December 16

Three teams of medical experts headed by child specialists reached Danour village in Reasi after two sisters died of an undiagnosed disease at the district hospital on Friday.

As per reports, Prem Chand, a resident of Danour village, and his daughters fell ill a few days ago. At the time, the family believed it was throat infection. After their condition started deteriorating, Prem Chand and his daughters visited a local dispensary and the duo were referred to the Reasi District Hospital.

However, Ashruti Devi (8) and her sister Asho Devi (5) died at the Reasi District Hospital within two hours of being brought there, said Dr Prittam Thakurm, Reasi District Hospital Superintendent.

The bodies of the girls were handed over to the family for the last rites after the post-mortem on Saturday.

Dr Thakur said it was premature to say anything about the disease that led to the deaths. “Nothing is clear in the preliminary reports. We feared it was diphtheria, a communicable decease caused by bacterial infection. However, no symptoms of the disease were found during the post-mortem,” he added.

“We will determine the cause of their death only after getting the post-mortem report,” Dr Thakur added.

Meanwhile, Reasi DC Sagar Dattatray Doifode said: “The medical teams from Jammu and Reasi have reached Danour village. The experts are examining the locals for any symptoms of diphtheria. However, nothing of the sort was found so far.”

The medical experts are carrying out a preventive vaccination drive for various life-threatening diseases among the children in the village and in the adjoining areas.