Srinagar, Jan 15 (KNO): The 14 deaths in the last 45 days in Badhaal area of Rajouri are not linked to any mysterious disease, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo said on Wednesday
Speaking to reporters here, Itoo, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that extensive tests conducted within and outside Jammu and Kashmir have returned negative for any disease, infection, or virus,
Since December 7, 14 people, including 11 children from three related families in Badhaal village, have died due to which people in the area are in utmost shock and have been demanding probes.
Sakina said that despite the negative test results, these deaths remain a major concern and efforts are on to investigate the matter at the earliest.
She said authorities are now focusing on a thorough investigation to determine the cause as the angle of virus and infection along with other diseases have been ruled out by experts.
The minister said the health department screened 3,500 villagers door-to-door after five initial deaths. "Samples were analysed at top institutions, including ICMR Pune, NCDC Delhi, DRDE Gwalior and PGI-Chandigarh. Water and food samples were also tested, yielding no evidence of contamination," she said.
Sakina said the deaths have been confined to three related families living in close proximity. "If the cause had been a communicable disease, it would have spread widely," she said.
When asked about reports of neurotoxins in some of the deceased, she said a definitive conclusion awaits as the investigation is going on.
She said police and district administration would expedite their probe into the unexplained fatalities. "I am in touch with health authorities along with district administration who have been asked to expedite the investigation process so that necessary steps can be taken at the earliest", she said, adding, "The deaths are a tragic mystery, but we are committed to uncovering the truth."
The outbreak has sparked widespread panic among residents as the disease continues to claim lives, including many children, in the village.
Residents of Badhaal are increasingly worried over the fatalities, especially since the victims do not belong to any single family. This has left every household concerned about the health of its members.
Symptoms exhibited by the victims include high fever, excessive sweating, vomiting and episodes of loss of consciousness. Despite extensive medical management, the precise cause of the illness remains unidentified. This has prompted doctors to treat cases symptomatically while waiting for definitive findings.
The tragic sequence of events began on December 8 when Mohammad Fazal and his four children lost their lives, followed by the deaths of three children from another family, led by Mohammad Rafiq. Rafiq’s pregnant wife also died on December 23, a case linked to medical negligence.
Two siblings succumbed to the illness on January 12, with another sibling passing away on January 13. On Monday evening, 62-year-old Mohammad Yusuf, a relative of the affected family, died at GMC Rajouri, and on Tuesday, a six-year-old girl succumbed.
Meanwhile, J&K Police have constituted an 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the mysterious deaths that have been reported in the Badhal area of Rajouri district in the last 45 days. The team will be headed by Superintendent of Police (Operations), Budhal, Wajahat Hussain.
The members of the SIT include Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Kandi, station house officers (SHOs) of police station Kandi and women's police station Rajouri, officials and experts from forensic medicine and toxicology, microbiology, paediatrics and pathology departments.
According to the order, the team will utilise the expertise of professionals from the food safety, agriculture, and Jal Shakti departments, as well as the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Jammu. "The team will make all sincere efforts to work out the inquest proceedings to its logical conclusion at the earliest," it said—(KNO)