Mysterious Illness Claims 17 Lives In Jammu And Kashmir (image:x.com/MuzzafarShah1)
Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir: Though the exact cause of death unable to locate, a mysterious disease is unleashing terror in Jammu and Kashmir’s Badhaal village. Since December last year 17 deaths have been reported and a total of 38 people gave been affected by the disease. A high-level inter-ministerial team constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday has reached Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district to investigate about the mysterious illness and deaths.
Yasmeen Kousar, aged 15, is the most recent victim who died under unexplained circumstances. She died on Sunday, after battling for her life the last couple of days. She was put on ventilator support in the SMGS hospital, Jammu. Yasmeen was the eighth member of the family of Mohammad Aslam, a resident of the village. Aslam is worst affected in the tragedy, he has lost his parents and all 6 children.
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As per the reports, those who have succumbed to the disease were from three families at Badhaal village. The deceased include 12 children and a pregnant woman. Doctors stated that neurotoxins caused these deaths but they were unable to find the source so far. Authorities have also ordered the sealing of a water reservoir, where they claim they have found traces of “pesticides or insecticides”.
Earlier, experts from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh; National Institute of Virology, Pune; and the National Centre for Disease Control have visited the village and conducted microbiological studies on some water and food samples collected. In their report, experts had stated that “certain neurotoxins” appear to have been found in the samples of those who died. However, no viral or bacterial or microbiological infections has been detected.
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Neurotoxins are substances or chemicals that alters the functioning of the central and peripheral nervous system and its effects depend on the substance, dose, and duration of exposure. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah formulated Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter. However, no definitive cause for the deaths have been discovered so far. Three houses belonging to the affected families have been shut and 21 of their close relatives have been transferred to a government accommodation where they are kept under strict observation.
