Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jan 22: The situation in the Badhaal area of Rajouri district has taken a worrisome turn, with four more persons, including three siblings, falling ill in the past 24 hours. This comes amidst an ongoing investigation into mysterious deaths that have claimed 17 lives over the last 50 days.
An official said that the latest case involving a 25-year-old youth, Aijaz, who was attending patients at GMC Jammu, has intensified concerns. Aijaz was airlifted to PGI Chandigarh during the night, where his condition is reported to be stable.
Three siblings from the family of Bagga Khan also fell ill and were shifted to GMC Rajouri before being airlifted to PGI Chandigarh for further treatment.
MLA Budhal, Javed Iqbal Choudhary said the situation is of serious concern and that the government is making all-out efforts to manage the crisis. “The seriousness of the government is evident, as Aijaz was airlifted to Chandigarh, and arrangements are underway to shift other patients as well,” he said.
Principal, GMC Rajouri, Dr Amarjeet Singh Bhatia said all fatalities exhibited brain involvement and nervous system damage. “Among nine admitted patients, five have recovered, but recovery becomes challenging once the brain is affected,” Dr Singh said, adding that preventive measures and public awareness campaigns are being prioritised to curb further risks.
The inter-ministerial team, constituted by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and led by a director-level officer from the Ministry of Home Affairs, continued its investigation for the third consecutive day. Experts from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Chemicals, and Water Resources, as well as forensic departments from Chandigarh and Lucknow, are actively involved.
The District Magistrate of Rajouri has declared Badhaal as a containment zone. He has issued orders to prohibit all public and private gatherings.
The affected families have been categorised into three containment zones to ensure continuous monitoring and prevent further spread:
Containment Zone 1: Homes of families where deaths have occurred will be sealed, with no entry allowed unless authorised.
Containment Zone 2: Close contacts of affected persons will be shifted to GMC Rajouri for health monitoring.
Containment Zone 3: All households in Badhaal village, with staff deployed to monitor food consumption.
Designated officials have been tasked with overseeing food distribution to families in containment zones. Logbooks will document every instance of food consumption, with police personnel monitoring compliance.
An epidemiologist at GMC Jammu said that no indications of a virus or infection have been found so far. “However, traces of toxins have been detected and are being analysed at a broader level. The source and nature of the toxins are still under investigation,” he said.
He said authorities are conducting preventive CT scans, educating the public on hygiene practices and advising them to consume only government-provided food. “Locals have been urged to cooperate with the measures to ensure safety and help in identifying the root cause of the deaths,” he said.
