Ehsaas, the young woman who gained national attention as India’s real-life “Mowgli Girl” after being rescued from a forest in Uttar Pradesh nearly nine years ago, has died at the age of 18. Officials confirmed that she passed away at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) in Lucknow on June 15.
Her death marked the end of an unusual journey that began with her discovery in the forests of Bahraich district and continued through years of medical care, rehabilitation and specialised support.
Health Complications Led to Hospitalisation
According to officials, Ehsaas had been suffering from health-related complications in the days before her death. She was admitted to the hospital on June 8 after her condition deteriorated.
Authorities said she showed signs of improvement after receiving treatment and was discharged on June 11. However, her health worsened again on June 15, following which caregivers rushed her back to the medical facility. She died shortly after reaching the hospital.
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Post-Mortem Report Identifies Cause of Death
A post-mortem examination found that Ehsaas died due to septicaemia linked to lung disease, officials said. Following the hospital’s death memo, police carried out the required inquest proceedings.
ACP Ghazipur Anindiya Vikram Singh confirmed details of her hospital admission and said her condition had declined again after a brief recovery.
What Is Septicaemia?
Septicaemia, also known as blood poisoning, is a severe medical condition that occurs when bacteria or other infectious organisms enter the bloodstream and trigger a widespread infection.
The condition can rapidly affect the body by causing inflammation, organ damage and other serious complications if not treated quickly with medical intervention.
Ehsaas Was Found in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in 2017
Ehsaas first came into the public spotlight in January 2017 when she was found wandering near a road in the Motipur range of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh.
At the time of her rescue, officials observed that she had very limited interaction with human society and displayed behaviour that appeared unusual.
Why She Was Called the ‘Mowgli Girl’
After her rescue, locals and officials noticed that the child moved on all fours, avoided human contact, resisted wearing clothes and communicated mostly through gestures and screams.
Her behaviour drew comparisons with Mowgli, the fictional character from Rudyard Kipling’s famous work The Jungle Book, leading to her being popularly referred to as India’s “Mowgli Girl”.
Rehabilitation Changed Her Life Over the Years
Following her rescue, the Child Welfare Committee in Bahraich initially named her Pooja. She was later renamed Ehsaas and shifted to Nirvan Rajkiya Bal Grih Visheshikrit on Mohaan Road, where she received long-term care and rehabilitation.
According to Nirvan Foundation chairman Suresh Singh Dhapola, years of therapy, medical assistance and support helped Ehsaas gradually adapt to a structured environment.
Ehsaas Developed Emotional Bonds With Caregivers
During her years at the care facility, Ehsaas reportedly learned to wear clothes, recognise people around her and respond to affection. She developed a close bond with a caretaker named Rani, whom she affectionately called “Amma”.
Her journey from a child found alone near a forest to a young woman receiving dedicated care remained one of the most widely followed rehabilitation stories in India
