Avinash Azad
The Government has confirmed that the recent deaths in village Budhal, Rajouri, which have claimed 14 lives, are not due to any communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin. Toxicological analysis conducted by CSIR-IITR has revealed the presence of toxins in collected samples, ruling out a public health emergency related to infectious diseases.
A single child admitted to SMGS Hospital remains in critical condition, with authorities continuing to monitor their status closely.
The first incident was reported on December 7, 2024, when seven members of a family fell ill after consuming a community meal, resulting in five fatalities. A similar incident occurred on December 12, 2024, affecting a family of nine and claiming three lives. The third occurrence was on January 12, 2025, when a family of ten fell ill after another community meal, leaving six children hospitalized.
The government swiftly initiated a series of actions to determine the cause of the illness and ensure the affected families received the best medical care.
High-Level Visits and Meetings:
– Minister for Health and Medical Education, Ms. Sakina Itoo, personally visited the affected area, chaired multiple meetings, and coordinated efforts across various departments.
– Chief Secretary J&K, Sh. Atal Dulloo, led meetings involving health authorities, district officials, technical experts, and police to oversee investigations and healthcare provisions.
Samples were tested at renowned labs including the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) New Delhi, National Institute of Toxicology and Research Lucknow, Defence Research Development Establishment Gwalior, PGIMER Chandigarh, and ICMR-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, GMC Jammu.
Medical and Epidemiological Efforts:
– Rapid action teams conducted door-to-door screenings and organized medical camps.
– Epidemiologists and microbiologists from DHS Jammu, GMC Jammu, and Rajouri performed detailed screenings and sample collections.
– Experts from NCDC, NIV Pune, and PGIMER Chandigarh provided specialized assistance.
Laboratory investigations have ruled out viral or bacterial etiologies as causes of the illness. Toxicological analyses by CSIR-IITR identified the presence of harmful toxins in biological specimens, shedding light on the possible cause of the incidents.
Police Investigation
The Rajouri Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter comprehensively. Efforts are ongoing to trace the origins of the toxins and establish accountability. Secretary of Health Research, MOHFW, and DG ICMR, Dr. Rajeev Bahl, emphasized the importance of ruling out any potential epidemic during a high-level video conference.
