11 children die in 51 days at Sevadham ashram:Over 50 of 250 children critical, MP High Court takes cognisance

11 children died over a one and half month period between 20 November, 2025 and 10 January, 2026 at Ankit Sevadhaam Ashram in Ambodia, Ujjain. Most of the deceased children were multi-disabled and between 10 to 18 years of age. All children were brought to Ujjain District Hospital for treatment in critical condition, where they died during treatment. High Court takes cognizance, issues notice to officials After information emerged about the death of 17 children in the past year at Sevadhaam Ashram, the High Court took cognizance of the matter on Wednesday. The court issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Women and Child Development, Commissioner, Collector Ujjain, District Women and Child Development Officer, and Ashram Superintendent seeking response within 2 weeks. The court has directed to submit an inspection report of the ashram. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for 12 March. Continuous deaths in December and January According to Government Charak Hospital records, 8 children died in December 2025 and 2 children have died so far in January 2026. Post-mortem was conducted in all cases and procedures were completed in police presence. Post-mortem conducted at Charak Bhawan Hospital Post-mortem of all deceased children was conducted at Government Charak Bhawan Hospital’s post-mortem room in the presence of Bhairavgarh police station officials. Hospital RMO Dr. Chinmay Chincholkar said that the children were brought to the hospital in critical condition. Some children were brought dead, while others died during treatment. Anemia was found to be the cause in most deaths. More than 50 out of 250 in critical condition in ashram Currently, around 250 orphaned and disabled children are living in Ankit Sevadhaam Ashram. Ashram director Sudhir Bhai Goyal said that more than 50 children are in critical condition. He said that most of the children coming to the ashram already suffer from serious illnesses. There are many children who are not able to walk, get up or eat on their own. 86 children were shifted from Yug Purush Dham Ashram in Indore About 1.5 years ago, after cases of children’s deaths and illness at Yug Purush Dham Ashram in Indore, the administration had cancelled the recognition of the ashram. After this, 86 differently-abled children living there were shifted to Sevadhaam Ashram in Ujjain. Most of the deceased children were brought from that ashram. Ashram administrator says children were already ill Ashram administrator Sudhir Bhai Goyal said that the children who died were suffering from serious illnesses beforehand. Many children had breathing problems, anemia and other diseases. He said that children coming to the ashram are already undergoing treatment at various places and they are kept in the ashram due to their serious condition.