The Jharkhand government on Tuesday denied that a woman in Giridih district died due to starvation, though it is yet to come up with a clarification on the second reported starvation death in Chatra district.
"Savitri Devi did not die due to starvation. She had been diagnosed with parenchymal haematoma. She had been treated in Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Ranchi. Her brother-in-law Bholaram Mahto used to look after her and give her food," said a probe report by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Giridih.
The state government has released the Giridih ADM's report to the media, denying that Savitri, 65, died due to starvation.
But the villagers said she died on Saturday due to hunger, as she had not eaten anything for over three days.
She, along with her daughter-in-law, would beg for alms while her two sons had left their home state in search of work.
The son of another woman in Chatra district has claimed that his mother died due to starvation, but the government is yet to react on his claim.
The two deaths took place over a span of three days.
According to local media reports, ragpicker Meena Musahar, 45, died in Itkhori block of Chatra district late on Monday. Her son claimed that she died due to hunger. Autopsy report was awaited to establish the exact cause.
"My mother and I used to eke out a living by collecting and selling waste products. But we had not eaten anything for the last four days immediately prior to her death, as we did not have any income," Gautam Musahar told reporters.
Meena's health, according to him, deteriorated on Monday evening and she had to be hospitalised. But the doctors declared her dead.
--IANS
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