Daijiworld Media Network – Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir, Jan 20: A mysterious illness has claimed the lives of 17 individuals in Badhaal village, Rajouri district, with 38 people affected since December 2024. The exact cause of the deaths remains undetermined, despite extensive investigations by local authorities and health departments.

On Sunday, a high-level inter-ministerial team, following an order by union home minister Amit Shah, reached the region to probe the cause of the deaths, which have affected three families in the remote village. The victims, who had complained of fever, nausea, pain, and loss of consciousness, died within days of being hospitalized.

Lt governor Manoj Sinha, speaking at a function, confirmed that the investigation was ongoing and highlighted that the home minister had ordered the formation of an expert team to ascertain the cause.

Dr A S Bhatia, principal of Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri, said that all deceased individuals shared a common medical condition: brain swelling or edema. Laboratory tests on samples collected from the village showed the presence of neurotoxins, which can damage the nervous system, causing brain swelling and other neurological effects.

Tests conducted by national laboratories, including the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Institute of Virology, Pune, ruled out any viral or bacterial infection, confirming that no communicable disease was responsible. However, the presence of neurotoxins was confirmed in the samples.

Neurotoxins are substances that disrupt the normal functioning of the nervous system, potentially causing symptoms such as paralysis, confusion, seizures, and, in severe cases, death. These toxins can come from various sources, including certain plants, animals, and industrial chemicals.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the source of the toxins, and further tests are being conducted to determine whether the exposure was accidental or linked to environmental factors.