Preliminary investigations into a food poisoning incident in Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, which led to one fatality and hospitalization of seven others, have identified the suspected consumption of a toxic wild fern mistaken for an edible vegetable.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the incident occurred on May 15 in Modha Draj village, located in the Koteranka subdivision of Rajouri district. Members of two families reportedly consumed a common meal during lunch, after which they experienced severe illness.
Doctors involved in the investigation stated that the affected individuals exhibited acute gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These were followed by neurological complications that suggested toxic exposure.
A preliminary assessment by medical experts from Government Medical College (GMC), Rajouri, suggests that the victims may have accidentally ingested a poisonous fern species, identified locally as Dryopteris filix-mas. The report highlighted that edible fiddlehead fern species can closely resemble certain toxic fern varieties, making misidentification during collection a significant risk.
The fatality was identified as 60-year-old Mohammad Hussain. The seven surviving patients, including children, are currently under medical observation, and officials report their condition as stable.
An epidemiological investigation has been launched by the Department of Community Medicine at GMC Rajouri, in collaboration with the Health Department, the district administration, and police authorities. The aim is to determine the precise source and nature of the toxic exposure.
Principal of GMC Rajouri, Dr. A.S. Bhatia, and Head of the Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Syed Shuja Qadri, visited the affected village to assess the situation and oversee public health response measures.
Officials confirmed that biological samples, including blood and urine, collected from the affected individuals have been sent for detailed microbiological and toxicological examinations. Samples from the deceased have also been dispatched to forensic laboratories in Jammu and Chandigarh to establish the exact cause of death and confirm the presence of toxic compounds.
Field teams are concurrently conducting environmental assessments in the locality to identify any remaining toxic plant material and to prevent further instances of exposure in the area.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
