Rohaan, the infant from Pakistan who was granted an Indian visa to undergo a heart surgery in Noida in June, passed away in Lahore on the night of 6 August.
“He died due to diarrhoea. He was down with diarrhoea after his return from India,” Geo TV’s Kamran Farooqui told the Times of India.
Confirming the news, Rohaan’s father, Kanwal Siddiqui, told the daily:
He is no more. He passed away last night.
The infant, who had a hole in his heart, was referred to a multi-speciality hospital in Noida for treatment. However, his parents were unable to get a medical visa owing to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Rohaan’s father had then reached out to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on social media, seeking help.
Swaraj responded on Twitter, and directed the authorities to issue a visa to the Siddiquis.
The family arrived in India via the Wagah Border last month.
(We all love to express ourselves, but how often do we do it in our mother tongue? Here's your chance! This Independence Day, khul ke bol with BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sing, write, perform, spew poetry – whatever you like – in your mother tongue. Send us your BOL at bol@thequint.com or WhatsApp it to 9910181818.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)