Tragedy struck in Uttarakhand's Haridwar as a five-year-old terminally-ill boy succumbed to superstition and misplaced hopes for a miracle. Battling blood cancer, the boy's parents, convinced that the river Ganga held the cure, immersed him in the freezing waters during the harsh north Indian winter. Their misguided attempts to prolong his life tragically resulted in his demise, as reported by the police.
The family, residing in Delhi, embarked on their journey to Haridwar around 9 am. The cab driver, accompanying the child, his parents, and another woman presumed to be the aunt, revealed that the boy appeared severely unwell. The family had informed the driver about the child's cancer diagnosis and the doctors' prognosis in Delhi.
A distressing video surfaced, capturing the parents chanting prayers while the aunt submerged the boy. Concerned bystanders intervened as the boy remained underwater for an extended period, urging the family to cease their actions. Despite resistance from the aunt, the gathered crowd managed to retrieve the child. Rushed to the hospital, the doctors, unfortunately, declared him dead.
In another video, the boy's aunt, beside the lifeless body, expressed unwavering belief in the child's revival. Haridwar city police chief Swantantra Kumar disclosed that the family had claimed the child was undergoing cancer treatment in a reputed Delhi hospital. Allegedly, doctors had given up, asserting that the child couldn't be saved. The family, placing faith in the healing powers of the Ganga, sought a miraculous intervention for the ailing child. The police have taken the boy's parents and aunt into custody for questioning.