PHULBANI/BALIGUDA, Kandhamal: A couple in Odisha's Kandhamal district died after consuming an unidentified medicinal potion prescribed by a local sorcerer, officials said on Tuesday, as police launched an investigation and sought to trace the practitioner.
The deceased have been identified as Lalita Kanhar and her husband Kanhu Kanhar, residents of Nedipanga village under the Gocchapada police station. The couple, who had remained childless for several years, approached a sorcerer in the Baliguda area and were reportedly given a traditional medicinal concoction, according to district sources.
Rapid deterioration after ingestion
Sources said the pair fell severely ill soon after consuming the mixture on Monday. Family members rushed them to Phulbani District Headquarter Hospital, where Lalita succumbed to the toxic effects while undergoing treatment. Kanhu was later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, for advanced care but died during treatment, officials said.
Local police have registered a case and initiated inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Officers said they were working to trace and apprehend the sorcerer believed to have supplied the concoction. The family has made allegations against the practitioner, prompting the probe.
Investigation and public warning
Police in Gocchapada confirmed the probe and said they were examining the substance, interviewing family members and other witnesses, and collecting any available physical evidence. No arrests have been reported so far. Authorities cautioned the public against resorting to unverified remedies and unsafe medical practices.
Medical personnel treating the couple described severe toxic effects, but hospital officials did not provide a detailed clinical diagnosis in initial statements. The incidents have reignited local concerns about the risks associated with unregulated traditional healing practices in remote and tribal pockets of the State.
Context and danger of unregulated remedies
In rural Odisha, traditional healers and sorcerers continue to be consulted for a variety of ailments and social problems, especially where access to formal healthcare is limited or social stigma deters people from seeking medical advice. While many customary remedies are harmless, unverified substances and doses can be dangerous or fatal.
Public-health and law-enforcement authorities often face difficulty tracing itinerant practitioners who operate without registration. This case underscores the intersection of faith, desperation and the need for strengthened outreach by health services in remote areas.
- Victims: Lalita Kanhar and Kanhu Kanhar, residents of Nedipanga village.
- Where they sought help: A sorcerer in the Baliguda area.
- Treatment locations: Phulbani District Headquarter Hospital; MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur.
- Police action: Investigation launched; efforts to trace and apprehend the sorcerer.
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday | Couple consumed the concoction and fell ill; admitted to Phulbani DHH |
| During treatment | Lalita died at Phulbani; Kanhu shifted to MKCG, Berhampur |
| Next day | Kanhu died at MKCG; police registered case and began investigation |
Practical advice for residents
Health and safety experts routinely advise that individuals avoid ingesting unlabelled or untested substances provided by unqualified persons. In addition, families seeking help for infertility or other chronic conditions should be encouraged to consult registered medical practitioners and seek assistance at primary health centres or district hospitals. Where immediate danger or suspected poisoning occurs, families should:
- Call emergency services or rush the patient to the nearest government hospital without delay.
- Preserve any remaining medicine or container for laboratory analysis and hand it over to police or hospital authorities.
- Report unregistered practitioners to local health authorities and the police.
The double fatality has prompted officials in Kandhamal to reiterate warnings against reliance on superstition and unverified remedies. Investigations are ongoing and police officials said they would share further details as the probe progresses.
