Two Brothers Die in Jharkhand After Family Opts for Occult Healing Over Hospital Care

Two brothers, aged 10 and 15, died on Thursday in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district after their family allegedly relied on an occult practitioner instead of seeking medical help for a persistent fever. Their mother, who was also ill, has been referred to a hospital in Ranchi in critical condition.

The family, residents of a village under Patratu block, had been suffering from fever for three days. Rather than consulting a doctor, they reportedly turned to an 'ojha guni' — a traditional sorcerer and healer — for treatment, officials said.

As the condition of the two boys deteriorated, they were rushed to Sadar Hospital, where they died one after another. Their mother was admitted there as well but was later transferred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi due to her critical state.

District Civil Surgeon Dr. Anil Kumar confirmed the sequence of events, noting that the family had delayed proper medical care. "Their condition turned critical, and they were brought to Sadar Hospital, where the two brothers died, while their mother has been referred to Ranchi in critical condition," he said.

An inquiry has been ordered into the deaths, and a medical team will visit the village to determine the exact nature of the fever. While Dr. Kumar declined to confirm the cause, he expressed concern that it could be swine flu.

Local police and administrative officials reached the spot after being informed of the deaths. Authorities have appealed to villagers not to fall prey to superstition and to take patients to the nearest health centre or hospital in case of illness.