Mathura village residents are mortgaging property to save their children’s lives | Ground Report

The deadly outbreak of dengue and scrub typhus in Uttar Pradesh’s Koh has claimed 11 lives in August and September. The Koh residents are living under fear and are forced to mortgage their lands and properties to save their children's lives.

A 14-year-old boy fell sick on August 27 in Mathura’s Koh village. A day later, his mother rushed him to a private hospital in Mathura. On August 30, he was referred to yet another private hospital in Agra. Soon the medical bills started to pile up.

While the mother, Guddi Devi, was stuck at the hospital, the boy's father, Bhura Singh, was bedridden himself. In order to pay the medical bills for their son, Sourabh Chouhan, they decided to mortgage the jewelry at home.