Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the media on Thursday, ruling out an infectious pathogen as the cause of a mysterious illness that has claimed the lives of 17 people in Jammu and Kashmir's remote Rajouri district over the past month. According to preliminary findings from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) lab in Lucknow, the deaths are linked to unidentified toxins rather than any bacterial or viral infection. Singh stated that the investigation is now focused on determining the nature and source of the toxin, which could potentially provide crucial insights into the tragedy.
The deaths, reported between December 7 and January 19, have been confined to three families in Badhaal village, a remote area of Rajouri. The village was declared a containment zone on Wednesday, with strict prohibitory orders issued to restrict public and private gatherings in an effort to prevent panic from spreading further. Four additional individuals, all close relatives of the affected families, remain hospitalised in critical condition, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
In response to the escalating situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs has formed an 11-member inter-ministerial team to investigate the deaths. The team arrived in Rajouri on Sunday, following the death of a young girl at SMGS Hospital in Jammu, which raised the death toll to 17. The team has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into potential environmental, food, and water-related causes of the illness.
Patients impacted by the mysterious illness have reported symptoms such as fever, acute pain, nausea, excessive sweating, and loss of consciousness. In many cases, these symptoms have led to a rapid deterioration in health, often culminating in death within just a few days of hospitalisation. Earlier this week, local authorities sealed a water spring, commonly referred to as a "bawli," after tests revealed the presence of pesticides and insecticides in the water. This discovery has raised significant concerns that contaminated water could be a contributing factor in the fatalities.
Dr. Shuja Qadri, a senior epidemiologist and head of the Community Medicines Department at GMC Rajouri, confirmed that the deaths were not caused by any communicable disease. Instead, the investigation has narrowed its focus to potential toxins in food or water. Over 200 food samples have been sent to advanced laboratories across the country for detailed analysis. Dr. Qadri expressed optimism that the laboratories would identify the specific toxin within a week to 10 days, paving the way for implementing targeted control measures to prevent further deaths.
Authorities have reassured the public that there is no evidence of a widespread health crisis stemming from a communicable disease. The detection of neurotoxins in samples collected from the deceased has led the police to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter further. The SIT is exploring all possible angles, including whether the toxins could be linked to pesticides, contaminated food supplies, or other environmental factors.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the affected village earlier this week, meeting with residents to express solidarity and offer assurances that the government is committed to uncovering the root cause of the fatalities. Speaking to reporters, Abdullah emphasized that extensive tests had ruled out the presence of bacteria or viruses, and he reiterated the government's determination to identify the source of the toxin as quickly as possible.
The crisis has also drawn attention from local and national health authorities, with additional resources being allocated to support the investigation. Health officials have been conducting awareness campaigns in nearby areas, advising residents to avoid consuming water from potentially contaminated sources and urging them to report any unusual symptoms immediately.
While the situation remains contained, the ongoing investigation is critical to preventing a recurrence of such incidents in the future. Authorities are optimistic that once the toxin is identified, appropriate measures can be taken to mitigate the risk and ensure the safety of the affected community. For now, the focus remains on supporting the families impacted by the tragedy and restoring a sense of security in the region.
