By Pankaj Sharma

A mysterious illness has killed 16 people, including 12 children, in the past 40 days in Budhal village of Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. Between December 7 and 16, 2024, 9 members of two families had died. On January 11, six children from Mohammad Aslam’s family fell ill, with four of them passing away on the first day. A 10-year-old girl died on January 12, and the sixth girl is still fighting for her life on a ventilator.

The government has formed an SIT (Special Investigation Team) to uncover the cause of this mysterious illness. A team from the Food Safety Department visited the village, taking samples of water, food, and other materials from the affected family for testing. Medical teams have also been deployed in the village.

Experts On What’s Killing Families

The atmosphere in the village is one of fear and uncertainty, as residents are worried about the illness spreading further. Experts have reported finding neurotoxins in the samples of the deceased, but the cause remains under investigation, and authorities are awaiting forensic reports.

Political leaders, including BJP leader Ravinder Raina and former minister Zulfkar Chowdhary, have visited the affected families. They expressed concerns about a possible conspiracy behind the deaths and assured the people that the SIT will investigate thoroughly, promising that anyone responsible will not be spared.

Despite the rising death toll, Jammu and Kashmir’s Health Minister, Sakina Ittoo, has dismissed the possibility of a mysterious disease being the cause of death. She stated that all the test results, both from within and outside the union territory, have come back negative. However, the growing fear among the villagers remains, with many of them staying indoors to avoid potential exposure to the illness.

Deputy CM Visits Budhal

Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary on Saturday visited Budhal village to meet the bereaved families affected by the tragic deaths of 16 individuals from three families.

Expressing heartfelt condolences, he assured the families of unwavering support from the district administration during this difficult time.  Pertinently, Cabinet Ministers Sakeena Itoo and Javed Rana had already visited the village immediately after the first two incidents to provide solace and ensure timely action. Meanwhile, the district administration is actively providing essential supplies, including ration and water, to the affected families and the community.

The Deputy CM said that adequate medical teams are on ground and working tirelessly to address any immediate concerns. He also informed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the police is probing the cause behind these unfortunate deaths. “The Chief Minister is personally monitoring the situation and all efforts are being made to ascertain whether these deaths were due to natural causes or any other reason,” he said. He reassured the public that there is no need to panic, highlighting the government’s commitment towards welfare of every citizen. “We stand firm in ensuring the well-being of our people,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, MLA Budhal, Javed Iqbal Choudhary, ADDC Rajouri, Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa and all district officers accompanied the Deputy CM during his visit to Badhaal village.

Today Visited Badhal village to meet the bereaved families affected by the tragic loss. Medical teams are working tirelessly to address the immediate concerns. A Special Investigation Team is probing the cause of these unfortunate deaths as well. Chief Minister @OmarAbdullah ji… pic.twitter.com/1wSSr4Ot0u

— Surinder Choudhary (@Surinderch55) January 18, 2025

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