Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who visited Budhal village of Rajouri on Tuesday said that the cause of 17 unexplained deaths remains unknown.
He added that these deaths have not occurred due to any disease.
Addressing reporters after assessing the situation in the affected village, Omar Abdullah emphasized the government’s priority to prevent further fatalities. “Our immediate focus is to ensure the death toll does not rise beyond 17,” he said.
The Chief Minister revealed that as soon as the authorities were alerted, health and other relevant departments began working to identify the cause.
“Extensive testing has been conducted, and we have ruled out bacteria or viruses as the source of these deaths,” he explained.
Abdullah also highlighted that all the fatalities occurred within three families.
“Since the cause is not linked to a disease, the police are now involved in the investigation. A special team has been formed to probe the matter further. Additionally, a team from the central government is assisting us in uncovering the reasons behind these deaths,” he added. [KNT]