JAMMU: In response to a growing health crisis in Badhal village, where an unexplained illness has claimed 17 lives since December and four new cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, the district administration has relocated affected families to the Government Nursing College, Rajouri. The relocation comes alongside containment measures to prevent further spread of the mysterious illness.
Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa, Additional District Development Commissioner, outlined a detailed relocation strategy assigning specific roles to various departments. Measures include round-the-clock medical services, hygiene supplies, and uninterrupted water and electricity.
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Security at the relocation site is being overseen by the Senior Superintendent of Police, while the Principal of GMC & AH, Rajouri, has deployed a team of doctors for continuous medical care. Essential items such as beds, mattresses, and food are being provided under the supervision of various officials, and food safety measures are being rigorously enforced. Mobile toilets, cleanliness, and waste disposal are also part of the plan.
To control the situation, the administration has declared Badhal village a containment zone under BNSS 163. The village has been divided into three zones: one for families that have suffered fatalities, another for close contacts, and a third for broader precautionary measures.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, probing the deaths, has interrogated nearly 100 individuals and collected over 12,500 samples, including blood, food, water, and environmental specimens. However, no conclusive evidence has been found.
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Forensic labs across India are assisting in advanced testing to explore potential causes such as toxic food contamination, water pollution, or exposure to hazardous substances. Viral and bacterial infections have been ruled out, adding to the mystery surrounding the deaths.
Dr. Shuja Qadri, Senior Epidemiologist at GMC Rajouri, has suggested that toxicity in the food chain might be the cause of the fatalities. He clarified that there is no evidence to classify the illness as communicable. Dr. Qadri expressed optimism that ongoing investigations may soon yield answers to provide relief to affected families.
The crisis began on December 5, 2024, during a wedding feast in Kandi village, Budhal tehsil, around 60 kilometers from Rajouri. Fazal Hussain, 40, and several family members fell ill after consuming food at the gathering. Hussain died on December 7, followed by the deaths of four family members, including children aged 5 to 14.
Subsequent fatalities were reported in other families in the village, including three children from Muhammad Rafiq’s family on December 12. On January 12, ten members of Mohd Aslam’s family fell ill, leading to six deaths, with the last victim succumbing on January 19.
The unexplained fatalities have left the village in a state of fear and mourning. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to uncover the cause, ensuring support for the displaced families while working to prevent further tragedies.
