Srinagar: Deaths in Budhal village, Rajouri, have been attributed to toxins rather than any bacterial or viral communicable disease, according to a report by CSIR-IITR. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by Rajouri police to probe the matter.
Government spokesperson in a statement issued here to news agency JKNS reads, the situation has claimed 14 lives since the first incident on December 7, 2024, when five members of a family died following a community meal.
Two subsequent incidents on December 12, 2024, and January 12, 2025, affected multiple families, resulting in more fatalities and hospitalizations. One child admitted to SMGS Hospital remains critical, it reads.
The government has conducted extensive investigations involving national institutions, including the National Institute of Virology Pune, PGIMER Chandigarh, and ICMR labs. Tests ruled out bacterial or viral infections, with toxicological analysis confirming the presence of toxins in samples.
Statement further reads, the Health Minister, Ms. Sakina Itoo, and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo visited the area, convening multiple meetings with health experts and district officials to identify the cause and ensure the best healthcare for the affected.
The government also launched medical camps, rapid response teams, and door-to-door screenings. Experts from leading institutions were involved in assessing the crisis, and the Secretary, Department of Health Research, held discussions to rule out an epidemic, it reads.
Investigations and healthcare measures are ongoing as the government pledges its commitment to safeguarding public health, reads the statement. (JKNS)
