Infant deaths in Keralam’s Attappady renew calls for health-care review

Concern is growing over infant deaths at Attappady in Keralam, where three babies have reportedly died within a week and 10 deaths have been reported in the past four months.

The latest death, that of a newborn boy who died within an hour of birth, has renewed calls to review maternal and newborn health care in the region.

The baby was born to Raji and Suneesh from Dhonikkundu tribal hamlet at Agali. The death took place at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, early on Tuesday (October 27, 2026).

Preliminary findings pointed to complications present at birth, including a heart defect, as possible causes of death. Ms. Raji is reportedly suffering from sickle cell anaemia.

Ms. Raji was admitted to the Taluk Tribal Speciality Hospital at Kottathara, Attappady, after the baby’s movements in the womb stopped. She was later shifted to Kozhikode for specialised treatment. The baby was delivered by surgery, but doctors could not save him.

Two other infant deaths were reported in Attappady this month. A 15-day-old boy born to Murukesh and Sivakami from Vadakkottathara died at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur. A 20-day-old baby born to Jyothimani and Biju from Vechupathi hamlet at Sholayur died at the same hospital on October 21.

The deaths have raised questions about access to nutrition and the timely detection and treatment of health problems among pregnant women and newborns.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged protests alleging that malnutrition was contributing to the deaths. It called for an expert study of the situation.

The family of the 15-day-old baby also alleged that the child’s health problems were not detected during treatment at Kottathara hospital. According to the relatives, tests conducted later at a hospital in Coimbatore revealed that the baby had an imperforate anus, a condition in which the anal opening is absent, and a serious heart defect.