Seven Children in Mumbai Die After Battles With Rare Neurological Disease SSPE

Seven children in Mumbai have lost their lives following protracted battles with Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare and fatal neurological condition linked to measles infections. The deaths have left their families grappling with substantial medical debt, severe grief, and critical questions regarding the availability of support systems after diagnosis.

The affected children had once harboured aspirations of everyday careers before the onset of the illness. Tanish Belkar had hoped to join the armed forces, Ovi Pujari aspired to become a police officer, and Sharvani Rakh dreamed of becoming a pilot. Families recounted that the children had been entirely healthy before the onset of SSPE upended their lives.

The progression of the disease pulled the seven families into years marked by persistent seizures, frequent hospital admissions, and escalating medical expenses. Despite medical interventions, all seven children eventually succumbed to the neurological illness.

Among the victims was Tanish Belkar, who died of SSPE on March 10, 2026. He is survived by his parents, Mahadu and Jaya Belkar, and his younger brother, Atharva Belkar, who have shared the emotional and financial strain endured throughout his illness and after his passing.

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis is a rare, progressive neurological condition associated with prior measles infection. The families of Tanish, Ovi, Sharvani, and four other children have highlighted the extensive challenges faced during treatment, pointing to mounting healthcare costs and an absence of adequate institutional support following an initial SSPE diagnosis.