Superstition! A strange and tragic incident took place in Chhindkalo, a village in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, India. A 35-year-old man, Anand Yadav, swallowed a live chicken, causing his airway to be blocked. He tragically suffocated and died. This odd case left medical professionals baffled.
The Tragic Incident
Anand Yadav had just finished bathing when he suddenly felt dizzy. He collapsed shortly afterward. His family rushed him to the nearest hospital, but despite attempts to save him, he died. Initially, the cause of death was unclear, so Yadav’s body was sent for an autopsy.
When the medical examiner made an incision near his throat, they found something unbelievable: a live 20-centimeter-long chicken lodged in his windpipe. The pathologist concluded that the chicken blocked both the airway and food passage, causing suffocation. The examiner, who had done over 15,000 autopsies, stated that this was the first time they had encountered such a case.

The Mystery Behind the Chicken Swallowing
Villagers believe Yadav was influenced by superstition. He and his wife had been trying to conceive for five years without success. It is said that Yadav consulted a tantrik, a mystical practitioner. These practitioners often claim to have supernatural powers. Yadav likely followed their advice and swallowed the chicken as part of a fertility ritual. Sadly, this resulted in his death.
Dangerous Superstitions
This is not the first time superstitions have caused harm in India. In 2019, in BanasKantha, Gujarat, a tantrik burned a cross on a baby girl’s chest to “heal” her heart condition. The baby was severely injured. Similarly, in West Bengal, a four-year-old boy died after his grandmother took him to a tantrik instead of a hospital.

Darker Rituals and Human Sacrifice
Superstitions have led to even darker rituals. In 2016, a family in Assam participated in a human sacrifice ritual to find their stolen phone. They sacrificed a four-year-old boy to please the “goddess.” In Rajasthan, a man practiced witchcraft and set a young girl on fire as part of a ritual.
A Cycle of Violence
These events continue to occur across India. Just this month, a 42-year-old tantrik in Gujarat was arrested. He confessed to committing multiple murders as part of his rituals. He was reportedly involved in human sacrifice. Unfortunately, he died before further investigation could be completed.

Despite the many deaths and tragedies, people still seek out tantriks, hoping they can solve their problems. Superstition continues to have a dangerous hold on many communities.