A mysterious illness in Badhal village, Rajouri district, Jammu Kashmir, has claimed 17 lives, including 13 children and a pregnant woman, since December 7.
Doctors suspect the cause is toxins, ruling out bacterial, viral, protozoan, or zoonotic origins.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh revealed that tests conducted by a CSIR toxicology lab in Lucknow indicate the presence of a toxin, with further analyses underway.
“The absence of infection or bacteria points to toxins. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether it was accidental or deliberate,” Singh said.
Senior epidemiologist Dr. Shuja Qadri from GMC Rajouri stated that over 200 food samples have been sent for testing across India to isolate the neurotoxin.
“The focus is on identifying toxins in food items,” he said, adding that results are expected within 10 days.
Four more individuals, including three sisters, were hospitalized this week. Authorities have quarantined affected families and sealed their homes under strict containment measures.
The district administration has also set up a quarantine facility with 24-hour monitoring and security.
A team from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Chandigarh has been investigating the village, and a central inter-ministerial team has been camping in Rajouri since January 19.
Preventive measures, including raising awareness about food safety, are being implemented as investigations continue.