Rajouri, Jan 16 : The Government has confirmed that the recent deaths in Village Budhal, Rajouri, were not caused by any communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin. Toxins have been identified in the samples analyzed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR). In response, the Rajouri police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate the matter.
The unexplained illness, which has so far claimed 14 lives, came to notice after three separate incidents involving families falling ill after consuming community meals. The first incident, reported on December 7, 2024, affected a family of seven, leading to five fatalities. On December 12, 2024, a second incident occurred, this time involving a family of nine, of whom three succumbed. The most recent event, on January 12, 2025, involved a family of ten, with six children hospitalized. One child remains in critical condition at SMGS Hospital.
Authorities have reassured the public that there is no health threat, as extensive testing of samples conducted at renowned national laboratories has ruled out any bacterial or viral etiology. These laboratories include the National Institute of Virology (Pune), National Centre for Disease Control (New Delhi), National Institute of Toxicology and Research (Lucknow), Defence Research and Development Establishment (Gwalior), the Microbiology Department of PGIMER (Chandigarh), and the ICMR-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (GMC Jammu).
The Government implemented several measures to address the situation and uncover the cause of the illness. Minister for Health and Medical Education, Ms. Sakina Itoo, visited the affected area and chaired multiple meetings involving the Health and Medical Education Department, District Administration, and other relevant agencies. Chief Secretary J&K, Sh. Atal Dulloo, led a series of high-level discussions with health officials, technical experts, and police to ensure comprehensive investigations and healthcare management.
Medical teams, along with food safety officials, were dispatched to collect food and water samples from the affected areas. Mobile medical units and door-to-door screenings were organized, while rapid response teams, consisting of epidemiologists, microbiologists, and other specialists, carried out detailed screenings and collected samples for analysis. Experts from national institutions such as the National Centre for Disease Control, National Institute of Virology, and PGIMER Chandigarh were also engaged to assist in the efforts.
Toxicological analysis conducted by CSIR-IITR revealed the presence of toxins in biological specimens, definitively ruling out the possibility of a communicable disease. The police have intensified their investigations through the SIT, aiming to identify the source and nature of the toxins that caused these fatalities.
The Secretary of the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and DG ICMR, Dr. Rajeev Bahl, also convened a video conference with key stakeholders to discuss strategies and preventive measures. The Government is collaborating closely with national and local experts to manage the crisis and ensure the safety of the affected population. [KNT]
