Superstition led to the tragic death of 4-year-old Manik Tripura after a untreated dog bite in Tripura. Learn how rural myths delayed care and why awareness is critical.
Agartala April 13: In a heartbreaking incident, superstition following a untreated dog bite has claimed the life of four-year-old Manik Tripura in Dhumachhara Bhud Kishore Para in Tripura.
A dog bite, which could have been treated with timely medical intervention, turned fatal due to the family’s reliance on rituals and traditional healers.
This tragedy highlights the persistent grip of superstition in rural India, underscoring the urgent need for awareness.
About a month ago, Manik Tripura was bitten by a dog, sustaining severe injuries. Usually, such an incident would prompt an immediate visit to a doctor for wound care and rabies prevention. Even as rural health care services were accessible, Manik’s guardians, swayed by deep-rooted superstitious beliefs.
Instead of availing of medical care, they chose a different path. Convinced that spiritual remedies could heal the boy, they sought the services of traditional healers, locally known as ojhas.
For weeks, the family clung to hope as healers performed rituals
For weeks, the family clung to hope as healers performed rituals, including animal sacrifices involving ducks, roosters, and pigeons. These efforts, steeped in superstition, delayed critical medical treatment, allowing Manik’s condition to worsen.
The consequences of this delay became undeniable on April 11, when Manik’s health took a sharp turn for the worse.
The parents rushed Manik to Manughat Hospital. There, doctors found Manik to be in critical condition. Recognizing the severity of his state, doctors urgently referred him to Dhalai District Hospital for advanced care.
But it was too late. Tragically, Manik passed away in the ambulance en route, his young life cut short by a preventable tragedy.
The incident has left the community in mourning and sparked renewed discussions about the dangers of superstition in healthcare decisions.
Although diminishing, superstition remains a formidable barrier in rural areas. Usually, in case of snake bite and few other diseases, superstition is often prevalent – but visiting traditional healers for dog bite is not a common practice in Tripura, claimed a veteran of Bhud Kishore para on Sunday.
“Despite India celebrating 77 years of independence, myths and traditional practices continue to influence critical decisions, sometimes with fatal outcomes”, Medical personnel of Manu Hospital.
“In Manik’s case, the belief that rituals could cure a dog bite—a condition requiring prompt medical attention, including rabies vaccination—proved catastrophic. Rabies, a nearly 100% fatal disease once symptoms appear, demands immediate intervention, yet superstition clouded the family’s judgment, delaying care until it was too late”, doctors opined.
This tragedy is not an isolated incident. Across rural India, superstitions surrounding health issues persist, from attributing illnesses to evil spirits to relying on unproven remedies over modern medicine.
In Tripura, such beliefs are often amplified by a lack of awareness and distrust in medical systems undermining the Government initiatives to ensure medical care for all.
Health experts argue for targeted campaigns to debunk myths and promote scientific healthcare practices to bring out rural communities from the clutches of traditional healers.
The loss of Manik Tripura has prompted calls for action. Local authorities and health organizations are urged to strengthen outreach programs in rural areas, educating communities about the dangers of delaying medical treatment.
“Initiatives like mobile health clinics and awareness drives could bridge the gap between superstition and science, ensuring families understand the importance of timely intervention”, said a young resident of Bhud Kishore para.
Additionally, improving access to healthcare facilities further in remote areas could reduce reliance on traditional healers, offering a lifeline to vulnerable populations.
For now, Manik’s family grapples with grief and regret, their loss a stark reminder of superstition’s deadly consequences.
Community leaders in Dhumachhara have expressed sorrow, with some advocating for change. “We need to learn from this,” said a local elder and added, “No more children should suffer because of old beliefs.”
