By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

An inquiry has been ordered into the death of a one-and-a-half-year-old boy admitted to the Shishu Gruha in Anantapur town, after his body was allegedly buried hastily without informing senior officials.

According to sources, a woman from Kalyandurg handed over her baby to the Women and Child Welfare department on September 30, citing financial difficulties that prevented her from caring for him. The baby, born underweight, had been receiving treatment for health complications.

Following due legal procedures, the boy was taken into the care of the department and shifted to the Shishu Gruha in Anantapur. He was later admitted to the Anantapur Government General Hospital for further treatment.

ICDS Project Director M. Nagamani told The Hindu that the baby suffered diarrhea on Dasara (October 2) and died. Shishu Gruha officials reportedly informed the district collector and the ICDS Project Officer of the death via WhatsApp and completed the final rites the next morning.

The matter came to light after it was revealed that the baby’s final rites were conducted without properly notifying senior officials. Following this, Collector O. Anand ordered an inquiry and sought a report on the cause of death and subsequent developments, Ms. Nagamani said.

She added that although Shishu Gruha officials had requested doctors at the GGH to admit the baby for treatment two days earlier, the child was sent back, with doctors stating that his condition was stable.

Meanwhile, tensions reportedly arose among Shishu Gruha staff, with the manager and ayahs blaming each other for the incident. “We have issued memos to the manager and ayahs regarding the matter,” Ms. Nagamani said.