Srinagar, Jan 21: Four more people, including three sisters from Badhal village in Rajouri district, have been admitted to Government Medical College, Rajouri after showing symptoms resembling those seen in the 17 mysterious deaths in the area over the past seven weeks.
An official told Rising Kashmir that four girls experienced high fever, severe body aches, vomiting, and loss of consciousness—symptoms identical to those of the earlier cases. The three siblings are daughters of Bagh Hussain while as the fourth girl is from another family. All four have been shifted to GMC Rajouri for advanced treatment and observation.
A local source confirmed that the three sisters and the other girl were in stable condition when they were airlifted. They are from Fazal Hussain’s extended family, where similar cases have been reported earlier, he said.
The source further stated that there is no evidence of a viral infection or contagious disease in the village, leading to speculation that the illness may be caused by food poisoning or contamination. The disease, which initially affected three families and led to 17 deaths, has now spread to other families in the village. However, all the newly affected individuals are close relatives of the original three families.
The local source explained that everyone falling ill is from a group of around 20 families who attended a community meal at Fazal Hussain’s home on December 2. The mysterious deaths first emerged on December 7, when five people, including four children, died shortly after consuming a community meal. On December 12, a woman and three children from another family also succumbed to an unknown illness.
On January 9, tragedy struck again when Mohammad Aslam’s six children fell ill, and all of them passed away. Last week, two more relatives of Aslam—a maternal uncle and an aunt—also died under similar circumstances.
An inter-ministerial team led by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is currently investigating the situation. The team, in collaboration with local officials and law enforcement agencies, is actively working to determine the cause of the deaths. Samples are being collected for testing, and medical experts have been consulted to explore possible explanations.
A local resident shared that the MHA team has been visiting affected families and leaving no stone unturned in their efforts. “They are collecting water and food samples and also examining the village environment to rule out contamination or other factors,” he said.
Despite the ongoing investigation, the situation has left Badhal village deeply anxious, with many fearing the illness could spread further if the root cause is not identified soon. However, officials have assured the public that rigorous investigations are underway, and necessary measures will be taken to prevent further tragedies.
