RAJOURI, Jan 23 – A mysterious disease that has claimed 17 lives in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district is likely caused by unidentified toxins, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said on Thursday, ruling out infectious pathogens.
Initial investigations conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) lab in Lucknow found no evidence of viral or bacterial infections, Singh told reporters. Authorities are now working to identify the toxin responsible for the deaths, which occurred between Dec. 7 and Jan. 19 in the village of Badhaal.
“If any conspiracy is found, appropriate action will be taken,” Singh said.
The deaths, which span three families, have prompted authorities to declare the area a containment zone and impose restrictions on gatherings. Four other villagers, all relatives of the deceased, remain hospitalised in critical condition, officials said.
INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
An 11-member inter-ministerial team formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs has been deployed to Rajouri to assist in the investigation. Symptoms reported by patients include fever, pain, nausea, excessive sweating, and sudden loss of consciousness, often resulting in death within days of hospitalisation.
Authorities sealed a local water spring, known as a “bawli,” after samples revealed the presence of pesticides and insecticides. Over 200 food samples have been sent to laboratories nationwide for analysis, according to Dr. Shuja Qadri, a senior epidemiologist with Government Medical College Rajouri.
“Based on the panel of toxins, laboratories are expected to isolate the culprit within a week or 10 days, enabling effective control measures to prevent further fatalities,” Qadri said.
NO PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
Officials have dismissed concerns of a public health crisis, stating there is no evidence of a communicable disease. Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after neurotoxins were detected in samples collected from the deceased.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the affected village earlier this week, assuring residents that the government would uncover the cause of the deaths.
“All tests indicate that no bacterial or viral pathogens are involved,” Abdullah said.
As the probe intensifies, authorities have called for calm while urging residents to follow containment measures to avoid further panic.
The Chenab Times News Desk