Rohan Umak
Ujjain children death: Two children died, while three others have been admitted to the hospital after they allegedly inhaled toxic fumes emanating from pesticides used to treat stored wheat inside a room at their house in MP’s Ujjain, the police said. According to police, the incident transpired in the Triveni Hills area on Indore Road in the city, leaving an entire family devastated during what was meant to be a routine summer visit.
Ujjain children death: Kids exposed to deadly fumes overnight
As per preliminary findings, six children had arrived from Shajapur to their maternal home in Ujjain for summer holidays. On Monday night, they slept along with their mothers in a closed rear room of the house. The room contained as much as four quintals of wheat treated with chemical pesticides. As the room lacked ventilation, toxic gases accumulated through the night, creating suffocation like conditions. The situation took a grim turn by Tuesday morning, when the kids began showing signs of severe distress.
The youngest victim, identified as 1.5 month old Trisha, was found frothing at the mouth and later succumbed despite treatment. Following this, another child, named Anika (4) died on Wednesday, deepening the tragedy.
3 kids undergoing treatment
Meanwhile, another child from the family, Jenisha (5) is said to be critical, and has been referred to a hospital in Indore for advanced medical care. Infant Rehan and Yeshu (3), who are also among the victims are undergoing treatment in Ujjain under close medical supervision. Doctors also weighed in, warning that exposure to pesticides in confined spaces can be particularly fatal for children due to their vulnerability to toxic inhalation.
Medical professionals rang alarm bells over the incident, stressing that chemicals used for grain preservation release hazardous fumes. In poorly ventilated environments, such gases can quickly turn life-threatening. Dr Jitendra Sharma said that such exposure often leads to symptoms similar to asphyxiation, posing severe risks, especially to kids and infants.
Family in shock, unnatural death case registered
Nanakheda Police of Ujjain have registered a case of unnatural death and are probing the incident. A forensic team has also been roped in, while the bodies of both kids have been sent for post-mortem. The bereaving family had reportedly followed the grain storage practice for years, and was unaware of the risks. The kids’ grandmother said, “We never imagined it could turn fatal,” while expressing remorse.
