‘Mud therapy’ patient finally shifted to district hospital

PILIBHIT: Following a TOI news report about a woman who had received an electric shock after touching a high tension wire and was being ‘treated’ with mud, the woman was finally shifted to a district government hospital at Pilibhit on Tuesday. Doctors treating her said she has suffered burns on her hands and back, but is now out of danger.
Ramkali (35) had suffered burns due to a high voltage electric shock in Sukhdaspur village on Sunday.However, instead of taking her to the hospital, villagers had buried her under soil, save for her face, sure that the soil would ‘heal’ her. Womenfolk have been feeding her milk and ghee since the last two days.
Her husband had supported the idea of the therapy, and was reportedly even opposing shifting her to a hospital as he had complete faith in the healing power of soil.
The staff of medical department, police and the revenue officials took action to rescue the victim as they had apprehensions regarding the therapy. The doctor of Madhotanda PHC convinced the victim’s husband and sought his consent for her hospitalization.
Following the directions of Dr Aslam Khan, the medical officer at community health center, Puranpur, the in-charge medical officer of Madhotanda primary health centre Dr Vineet Yadav rushed to Sukhdaspur along with his pharmacist Shyam Sunder. Sub-inspector Man Singh of Madhotanda police station also reached the spot to assist in shifting the victim to Pilibhit district headquarters for medical aid. Simultaneously with this, the tehsildar of Puranpur AM Tripathi sent the area Lekhpal Gajendra Pal to the help in the procedure.
The officials called an ambulance and shifted Ramkali to district government hospital.
According to reports, Ramkali was unconscious for an hour after her treatment started, and gradually gained consciousness. The medical officer on duty, Dr K K Verma, told TOI that she was out of danger and apart from some burn injuries which she had sustained due to the shock of high voltage power line, she showed no signs of any serious physical complication.