India, July 3 -- Brijesh Solanki, a 22-year-old state-level Kabaddi player from Uttar Pradesh, reportedly died of rabies weeks after he was allegedly bitten by a stray puppy he had rescued from a drain.

A gold medallist in state championships and a hopeful for the Pro Kabaddi League, Brijesh had not received an anti-rabies vaccine after the stray puppy bit him, the Times of India reported on Wednesday, quoting officials. Symptoms of the disease began showing only a few days before he passed away.

The youngest of three siblings, Brijesh lived in Farana village.

Following his death, health officials visited the village on Monday. They vaccinated 29 residents and started a campaign to spread awareness about rabies prevention.

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