A six-year-old girl's death in Bathinda has served as a big setback for the Punjab Government who has been fighting antisocial elements disrupting the state's immunisation drive. The girl Gurnoor Kaur died after suffering from a severe bout of diarrhoea at her school a day after she was given the MR (measles-rubella) vaccination. Her death comes at a time when vaccination rumours have been plaguing the social media in Punjab. Videos have been circulating in the state, warning parents against vaccinating their children. Do vaccines really cause deaths? Read an expert's opinion

According to news reports, Dr. Hari Narain Singh, district civil surgeon addressed a press conference on Sunday morning and dispelled the rumours connecting Gurnoor Kaur's death to MR vaccine. The child had died of a bout of gastroenteritis and extreme dehydration caused by the diarrhoea. The girl's family has also come forward and denied that the vaccine had anything to do with her death. The surgeon said that the child started vomiting on Saturday but the vaccination was administered on Friday. Had it been the MR vaccine, she would have shown the symptoms immediately within an hour. Are vaccines safe? Here's what every parent needs to know

The girl's uncle Beant Singh said that Gurnoor was fine on the day of the vaccination. Her condition worsened when she was at school. Her father Kulwant Singh said that the school authorities didn't inform that she had vomited and sent her back home at the usual time. He told The Indian Express that timely treatment would have prevented her death.

Authorities are now looking into the school's role and enquiring why they failed to report her parents well in time. Gurnoor's death has dealt a big blow to the government's vaccination drive, which was already suffering from the recent spate of rumours. Only 5 lakh children were vaccinated as against 73 lakh. Cyber cell will be now looking into the source of the malicious rumours and an FIR has been registered in Mansa.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 07, 2018 12:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).