At least 32 children die in India's Balaghat district since May

October 1, 2026 at 04:41 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

At least 32 children have died since May in remote villages of Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Officials attribute the deaths mainly to measles and malaria, possibly aggravated by malnutrition and delayed treatment. The victims, mostly from the Baiga tribal community, ranged from infants to an 18-year-old.

Key Facts

At least 32 child deaths have been recorded since May in a cluster of remote villages in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The victims ranged from babies three or four months old to an 18-year-old, and most were Baiga, a particularly vulnerable tribal group.
Officials attribute the deaths mainly to measles and malaria, possibly aggravated by malnutrition and delays in treatment.
The nearest state hospital, a 100-bed facility in Birsa, is about 70 km away from the affected villages.

The Outbreak

Bamita Markam, a three-year-old from Matla village, died at dawn after a night of convulsions, vomiting blood, and high fever. Her mother, Koushila, had first taken her to a doctor who prescribed an ointment, and later a faith healer gave her syrups and tablets, but nothing worked. Officials believe eight to 10 deaths were associated with measles and roughly another 10 with malaria, with several children suffering more than one infection. The precise cause of every death is less certain, according to officials.

Remote Terrain and Access

In remote, forested parts of Balaghat, where Maoist insurgency once took root, reaching a health centre can be a challenge in itself. Narrow dirt tracks wind between fields and mud homes, often becoming slippery and impassable in heavy monsoon rain. Doctors investigating the deaths have travelled through the mud in tractors, and on a recent visit, reporters walked nearly 2 km uphill to reach some of the more remote homes. The surrounding jungle was dotted with the graves of children who had died.

Community Impact

Sanjay Uikey, who has represented the area since 2013, said he has never seen an outbreak like this, with so many children dying in such a short time. Behru Markam lives with his wife and four children in a mud hut; his daughter Preeti died of a suspected measles attack. Most Baiga houses have low mud walls, rough timber and bamboo, and tiled or thatched roofs patched with plastic against the rain.