Goa, July 3 -- IN SHORT

Brijesh Solanki, a 22-year-old state-level Kabaddi player from Uttar Pradesh, has tragically died of rabies weeks after rescuing a stray puppy from a drain and sustaining a minor bite. Despite being a gold medallist with aspirations to join the Pro Kabaddi League, Brijesh reportedly did not receive a post-exposure rabies vaccination, officials told the Times of India.

Symptoms of the infection appeared only days before his death. A video showing Brijesh's severe condition circulated widely on social media shortly after he passed away last Saturday.

Following the incident, health authorities visited his village on Monday, vaccinating 29 residents and launching an awareness campaign to educate people about the dan...