Delhi Shelter Home Child Deaths: 13 Children Die in 20 Days, Government Launches Investigation

In a shocking revelation, the Asha Kiran shelter home in Delhi has reported the deaths of 13 children within the last 20 days. This alarming trend has prompted the Delhi government to take immediate action, forming a fact-finding team to investigate the root causes of these fatalities.

The team has been tasked with thoroughly examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths and submitting a report as soon as possible. Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 27 deaths have occurred at the shelter home, with 13 of those happening in July alone. The critical question remains: why are so many children dying, and what can be done to prevent further tragedies?

According to a report by The Times of India, Asha Kiran, located in Rohini, Delhi, has seen the deaths of 27 mentally ill children and individuals by July 20, 2024. Of these, 13 deaths occurred in just the first 20 days of July. Sources indicate that the children fell ill for unknown reasons and were admitted to the hospital, where they eventually succumbed to their conditions. All of the victims were brought to the hospital in an unconscious state, and their ages ranged between 12 and 20 years. Despite inquiries, shelter home authorities have not provided a clear explanation for the deaths.

The case has now caught the attention of the government, which is conducting postmortem examinations to determine the causes of death.

SDM's Statement on the Matter

The sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of North West (Rohini Division), Manish Chandra Verma, confirmed the situation, stating that 13 children have died in the last 20 days. The issue came to light last week, and departmental investigations are currently underway. The shelter home authorities have cited contaminated water as a potential cause, leading the Delhi Jal Board to collect water samples for testing and to replace the water purifiers at the facility. The postmortems are being conducted under the supervision of a magistrate, and the police are also conducting their own investigation.

The fact-finding team aims to uncover the truth behind these tragic deaths and ensure that the necessary measures are implemented to prevent further loss of life at the shelter home.