Kerala government orders probe into death of tribal children

Kerala government has ordered a probe into the recent death of two tribal infants who died due to abnormal development of brain at Attappady in Palakkad district.

State Health Minister V S Shivakumar entrusted an expert panel of doctors of Thrissur Medical College to study the circumstances of the death of the two children.

The Health Secretary has been asked to submit a report in this regard in the next two weeks, the minister said.

Causing concern among health experts, 16 tribal children have died in Attappady in Palakkad district, one of the largest tribal settlements in the state, due to malnutrition and ill-health since January. Health authorities confirmed that the last two deaths at Cheerakkadavu in Pudur village panchayat were due to abnormal development of brain.

Last year, 73 children, including newborns, died in the area due to malnutrition and other reasons.

Even though the government has initiated various steps to check the death of tribal children and for the well-being of inhabitants at Attappady, child deaths are still a major concern in the region.