Mystery Disease Claims Five Children in Salumber as Superstition and Quackery Obstruct Medical Intervention

The tragedy has been significantly exacerbated by deep-rooted social challenges, as district authorities identify rampant superstition and a misplaced reliance on "Bhopas" (traditional

occult healers) over clinical medicine as primary obstacles to effective treatment. Families in the region have frequently bypassed government hospitals in favor of "Jholachhap" (quack) doctors, a practice that has proven to be a major contributing factor in the worsening of the children's conditions. Following an investigative report by First India, District Collector Muhammad Junaid has taken decisive administrative action, issuing immediate orders to shut down all fraudulent and fake clinics operating within the district. The situation now mandates an urgent public awareness campaign by the district administration to eradicate the influence of superstition and ensure that medical emergencies are met with professional healthcare rather than life-threatening negligence.