Srinagar: While As two months have passed when the first deaths were reported in Badhaal village of Rajouri due to unexplained reasons, there has been no conclusive evidence about the cause behind the fatalities. The experts have so far only been able to detect presence of toxins in the samples but there is no conclusive report if these were responsible for the deaths.
During a high-level meeting, Secretary of Health and Medical Education Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah informed Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo that out of the 55 symptomatic persons, 38 were discharged after recovery and 17 deaths had been registered so far. He stated that there are currently no admissions in any of the hospitals and patients had even been examined by teams of doctors from PGIMER, Chandigarh, and AIIMS, New Delhi.
Also present at the meeting were Director, AIIMS; Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh; DG, ICMR; Director, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Lucknow; Director, CFSL; Experts from National Institute of Virology (NIV), DRD, Gawalior, and experts from other reputed laboratories carrying out investigation of the samples sent by the Health Department. Senior officials from J&K were also present.
The Health Secretary informed the meeting that every measure has been taken to isolate the families and provide them food and water after testing the same.
Health teams are stationed at the village to keep surveillance for any of the symptoms appearing in any person with whole population of the village screened by healthcare providers.
Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has ruled out infectious agents as the cause and is focusing on the possibility of toxic substances.
Experts from AIIMS Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh have visited the affected village, collected samples, and are currently analysing them for possible toxins.
A senior doctor told a local news agency that all patients at GMC Rajouri have now recovered and have been shifted to observation wards. “The antidotes administered to the affected individuals have been effective, but we still lack conclusive evidence about the exact cause of deaths. We are awaiting the final reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL),” the doctor said.
He added that investigators had already narrowed down their focus to toxins such as Aldicarb, Cadmium, and other salts, but official confirmation is still pending.
The district administration continues to monitor the situation closely, and the village remains under strict surveillance to prevent any further incidents.
An official told the news agency that there has been no further development, and authorities are waiting for government approval before allowing the people of Badhaal to return home.
“The recovered patients are currently being kept in hospital observation wards, along with their immediate family members. We expect the final reports from premier health institutes soon, after which the government will take a decision,” the official added. (With inputs from KNO)
2 moths one, Rajouri deaths remain unexplained
