A 25-year-old security guard at the Nuapada district hospital in western Odisha has died three days after taking a Covid-19 vaccine shot, prompting health authorities to launch an investigation into the “exact” cause of death.

Doctors said guard Nanikram Keut, who was posted at the hospital for the past 13 months, appeared “perfectly healthy” and had no history of pre-existing health disorders prior to the vaccination.

Nanikram was due to be married next month.

Nuapada chief medical officer K.P. Behera told The Telegraph: “The security guard was perfectly healthy before being administered the vaccine on January 23. However, on January 25, he developed an illness and was admitted to the district hospital.”

The district hospital referred the guard to the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, where he died on January 26 while undergoing treatment. Preliminary reports indicate that he had developed anaemia, an imbalance in his platelets, and an increase in his white blood cell counts.

Behera said the investigations will try to determine why Nanikram developed anaemia. “We have preserved his viscera. An expert team is trying to ascertain the reasons for his death. We are all waiting for the post-mortem report.”

Another security guard, who was senior to Nankiram, told this newspaper on the condition of anonymity: “Nanikram joined only 13 months back. He had also done duty at the Covid hospital. We have not seen any health related complication with him during the last 13 months. Though we get a paltry sum of Rs 7,500 as salary, he did his duty faithfully. He never refused any shift duty.”

Nankiram’s brother Rupchand Keut, also a security guard, told this paper: “We are three brothers,. Nanikram was the youngest among us. He had no health complications. Our village is only four kilometres from the district headquarters. He used to come to hospital either on motorcycle or on his bicycle. He died only because of the vaccine. But we doubt if doctors will admit this in their report.”

He said the whole family was shaken by the premature death of his brother who was to get married on February 19.

Meanwhile, Garib Sena, a non-political outfit working for the cause of the poor, has demanded that Nanikram be declared a Covid warrior. “We have already launched an agitation. He should be given compensation as per the government guidelines. His family members should be given a regular job,” said its president Ravi Mangaraj.

Earlier two health workers in the state, who took the Covid-19 vaccine last week, were admitted to a hospital after they reported Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI). They were released from the hospital after their condition improved.

The Union health ministry has said none of the deaths among people who have received vaccine shots so far are related to the vaccine. Among over 2.3 million people who have received vaccines nationwide, the ministry’s AEFI tracking mechanism had until January 26 detected eight deaths.