KINS DESK
Rajouri, Jan 20 (KINS): A high-level inter-ministerial team visited Badhaal village in Rajouri district on Monday to investigate the mysterious deaths of 17 members from three interlinked families, officials said.
The team, led by a senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs, arrived in Rajouri on Sunday evening for preliminary briefings by district, health, and police authorities.
The probe was initiated following directives from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to uncover the cause of the fatalities, which occurred between December 7 and January 19 in the remote village, situated 55 km from Rajouri town.
On Monday morning, the team, joined by senior officials from multiple departments, reached Badhaal at around 11:30 am. They visited the affected families while grave diggers prepared to bury 15-year-old Yasmeen Kousar, the sixth child of Mohammad Aslam, who passed away on Sunday evening at SMGS Hospital in Jammu.
Yasmeen’s body is expected to arrive at the village for burial near her five siblings and grandparents, who also died recently.
Nine members from two related families had succumbed earlier between December 7 and 12, raising concerns about an underlying cause.
The central team has divided into two groups for an in-depth investigation. Officials said immediate relief measures and precautions are being prioritized to prevent further casualties. Experts from leading institutions across India have been engaged to determine the root cause of the deaths.
Preliminary reports suggest the victims experienced fever, nausea, severe sweating, and loss of consciousness before succumbing within days of hospital admission. However, initial findings rule out bacterial or viral infections, eliminating fears of a communicable disease outbreak.
Authorities have sealed a local spring after tests detected traces of pesticides and insecticides in the water. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kotranka
Subdivision, Dil Mir, has deployed security personnel to monitor the sealed water source.
Meanwhile, police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve deeper into the matter. Neurotoxins were reportedly found in the samples collected from the deceased, hinting at potential contamination as the cause of death.
The central and local administrations aim to resolve the crisis swiftly and implement safeguards to avert similar tragedies.(KINS)
Central team probes mysterious deaths of 17 in J&K’s Rajouri Village
