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Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Despite repeated assurances by health officials, the Indore division is grappling with an alarming surge in child mortality.
Government health data reveals that between April 1 and June 30, 2025, a total of 1,426 children under the age of five died across the division’s eight districts, painting a grim picture of the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
These deaths occurred out of 51,200 registered live births, underscoring critical deficiencies in healthcare delivery and accessparticularly in tribal and rural areas.
Districts like Dhar (306 deaths), Khargone (209), Jhabua (204), Khandwa (170), and Indore (167) reported the highest mortality figures, far exceeding or nearing Madhya Pradesh’s average child mortality rate of 47 per 1,000 live births.
In Khandwa, 170 child deaths were recorded from just 2,716 births well above the expected 128 deaths. Similar concerns were noted in Dhar, where 306 children died out of 7,411 births.
Health experts cite malnutrition, anaemia, poor maternal care, infections, and low immunisation coverage as key contributing factors. The lack of quality maternal and child health services continues to endanger vulnerable populations.
Public health activists have demanded urgent intervention, calling for strengthened nutrition programs, better immunisation outreach, and improved healthcare delivery in underserved regions.
