The Muzaffarnagar health department on Sunday rejected claims that a six-year-old boy died due to inadequate medical facilities in Meerapur, calling a video circulated on social media misleading and aimed at defaming the government and health department.
Incident Details
Mohammad Ahad, a resident of Mohalla Mushtark in Meerapur, died on Saturday after a handcart allegedly hit him on the head while he was playing with friends in his locality. Locals said the children were pushing the handcart when it went out of control and struck him. Ahad collapsed with a head injury and died while being taken to a hospital in Meerut's Mawana.
Social Media Allegations
After the incident, a video was shared on social media alleging that he died because Meerapur lacked adequate healthcare facilities. The video was widely circulated, prompting a response from the health department.
Official Response
Rejecting the allegations, chief medical officer Sunil Tevatia said, "A primary health centre (PHC) is functioning in Meerapur, while community health centres (CHCs) are available nearby in Ramraj and Jansath." Officials said the video was being examined and appealed to the public not to circulate unverified information.
Allegations by Local Figure
The person making the allegations in the video was identified as Azim Zaidi, who claimed to hold a senior position in the Samajwadi Party youth wing. He said, "We have a PHC in Meerapur, and keeping in mind the population, a CHC should be here."
Additional Information
The health department emphasized that adequate facilities exist in the area and urged residents to rely on official sources for accurate information. The incident has sparked a debate on healthcare infrastructure in rural Uttar Pradesh.
