Mudasir Ahmad
Rajouri, Jan 20 (KINS): Fear and uncertainty have engulfed Budhal village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district following 17 unexplained deaths, including 13 children, over the past 6 weeks. Authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fatalities, leaving the village’s
5,800 residents in distress.
The deaths began on December 5, 2024, when five members of a family, including its head, passed away. On December 12, three more children succumbed under similar circumstances. “Everyone is terrified. We avoid going out after sunset and boil water multiple times before consuming it. People are even hesitant to eat or drink outside their homes,” Bashir Ahmad, a local told news agency KINS.
Despite investigations by leading health institutions, including PGIMER Chandigarh, the National Institute of Virology, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the exact cause remains unknown. The victims reportedly exhibited symptoms such as vomiting, extreme weakness, rapid deterioration, and comma before succumbing within days.
A doctor involved in the investigation revealed, “Toxins were found in some victims’ bodies, but it’s too early to confirm if these
caused the deaths. Samples of water, food, and other materials have been collected for analysis.”
A spring was also sealed after samples tested positive.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of senior police officers and medical experts to probe the deaths. An inter-ministerial team is also stationed in the village, working closely with locals.
The SIT is analyzing medical purchases, reviewing food and medicine consumed by the affected families, and investigating possible poisoning due to local rivalries.
Fayaz Ahmad, a local, expressed the community’s anguish. “We are devastated. We demand answers and pray no more lives are lost. Our children are scared, and we keep them under constant supervision,” he said. (KINS)
