Mysterious deaths in JK: Certain neurotoxins found in samples of dead persons

Jammu, Jan 15: Amid growing concern over the mysterious death of 14 people in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir over the past one month, the administration has directed officials to analyse reports from institutions to identify the cause of the deaths.Initial reports indicate the presence of certain neurotoxins in the samples of the deceased, which are being further investigated to determine the reasons behind these fatalities, officials said.Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting with officials from divisional and district administrations and health experts from several national institutions to review the measures taken so far to identify the cause of the mysterious deaths in Badhal village, Rajouri district.The Chief Secretary emphasised the need for the Health and Police departments to work in close coordination and thoroughly analyse the reports received from various reputed institutions to ascertain the real cause of these deaths, an official spokesperson said.He directed the police department to utilise all available resources, including scientific methods, to advance the investigation to its logical conclusion. Similarly, the health department was instructed to study these reports to identify reasonable leads contributing to the deaths.”The reports furnished by different institutions are now available, and more are expected soon. These should suffice to conclude the investigations and pinpoint the possible reasons behind the deaths in this particular village,” Dulloo said.During the meeting, Dulloo heard from experts who had analysed numerous samples collected from the affected individuals and the area. He also sought their suggestions regarding the future course of action.Experts informed the meeting that extensive microbiological studies ruled out viral, bacterial, or microbial infections as causes of the deaths. Instead, the deaths appeared to be localised and possibly linked epidemiologically, the spokesperson said.It was also disclosed that certain neurotoxins were identified in the samples of the deceased, which are being further investigated, the spokesperson added.From December 7, 2024, a total of 14 deaths out of 38 affected individuals were reported in three separate incidents in Badhal village. The exact causes remain unknown, officials said.The government has implemented several measures, including deploying Rapid Response Teams, analysing samples from humans and animals, and testing water sources. Assistance from reputed health institutions across the country has also been sought to determine the actual cause of these deaths.