The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report regarding the death of five persons due to malaria within a 13-day period in Kanker district, Chhattisgarh. The most recent case involved an 11-year-old boy who died on July 28, 2026, after initially testing negative for malaria at a private laboratory. When his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to a hospital in Albelapara, but he passed away before his blood test results confirming malaria positivity were received.
The Commission observed that the contents of the news report, if verified as true, raise serious issues of human rights violations. Consequently, the NHRC has issued a formal notice to the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, demanding a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. According to the media report dated July 31, 2026, the State Health Department has subsequently initiated a door-to-door malaria screening and awareness campaign in the affected areas of Kanker district as a responsive measure.