Phulbani: In a tragic case of quackery driven by superstition, a childless couple in Odisha’s Kandhamal district died after allegedly drinking a herbal potion prescribed by a traditional healer
The deceased have been identified as Kahnu Ishwar Kanhar and his wife, Lalita Kanhar, residents of Nedipanga village in Katringia panchayat under Gochhapada police limits.
According to family members, the couple had been married for 20 years and had long desired to start a family. Having previously consulted doctors without success, they eventually turned in desperation to a local traditional practitioner, hoping a quack remedy would solve their fertility struggles.
The couple reportedly consumed the prescribed herbal mixture around 11 pm on Saturday. Shortly thereafter, both fell ill and spent the night in severe distress. Neighbours found them in critical condition the following morning and immediately rushed them to the District Headquarters Hospital. As their health rapidly deteriorated, medical staff transferred both patients to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Brahmapur.
Tragedy struck en route as Lalita succumbed before reaching the facility. Her body was sent for postmortem and subsequently handed over to relatives, who performed her final rites in the village. Her husband, who initially showed signs of improvements, passed away a day later.
The grieving family members have demanded immediate arrest of the traditional healer. They allege that the fake practitioner exploited the vulnerable couple, charging 20 grams of gold alongside more than Rs 1 lakh in exchange for the lethal treatment.
While the exact medical cause of death remains to be established pending formal autopsy reports, local police are expected to launch an investigation into the toxic substance provided by the healer and the surrounding circumstances of the fraudulent arrangement.
Medical experts have repeatedly cautioned against consuming untested concoctions from unverified practitioners, emphasising that such reliance on quackery and superstitious treatments poses life-threatening risks to vulnerable patients seeking miracles.