State-Level Kabaddi Player Dies From Rabies After Puppy He Was Rescuing Bit Him

Last Updated:July 02, 2025, 19:23 IST

Brijesh Solanki, a state-level kabaddi player from Bulandshahr, died of rabies after a puppy bite. He mistook it for a minor injury and didn't get vaccinated.

State-level kabaddi player Brijesh Solanki (X)

Brijesh Solanki, a state-level kabaddi player, passed away due to rabies in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr. Approximately three months prior, Brijesh was bitten by a puppy he was rescuing. He considered the bite a minor injury and did not receive a rabies vaccination.

Videos captured days before his death show Brijesh in severe pain, and in one clip, he is seen enduring a violent rabies attack.

His coach, Praveen Kumar, stated, “Brijesh mistook the pain in his arm for a regular kabaddi injury. The bite seemed minor and he didn’t think it was serious, so didn’t take the vaccine," as reported by the Times of India.

On June 26, Brijesh complained of numbness during a practice session. He was taken to a district hospital, but his condition worsened, and he was transferred to a private hospital in Noida.

Sandeep Kumar, his brother, claimed that Brijesh was denied treatment at multiple government hospitals. “All of a sudden, he was afraid of water and was showing symptoms of rabies, but we were denied treatment at the government hospitals in Khurja, Aligarh and even Delhi. It was only in Noida that doctors confirmed he was likely infected with rabies. Brijesh died on Saturday while we were taking him to a faith healer in Mathura," he told TOI.

Brijesh was a resident of Farana village in Bulandshahr. The entire village gathered to bid a final farewell to the beloved kabaddi player.

“People should get themselves examined at a govt hospital in case of any dog, monkey or other animal bite," CMO Dr Sunil Kumar Dohre was quoted as saying by TOI., adding that Brijesh showed suspected rabies symptoms such as hydrophobia, and the exact cause would be confirmed after test results.

What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that impacts the nervous system and is nearly always deadly if not treated before symptoms emerge. It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected animal, most commonly from wild animals.

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...

Read More

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News sports State-Level Kabaddi Player Dies From Rabies After Puppy He Was Rescuing Bit Him