JAMMU: Two more siblings from Badhaal village in J&K’s Rajouri district died of a mystery illness within 24 hours of their five-year-old sister succumbing similarly during treatment at Jammu’s SMGS Hospital Sunday. Police initiated a fresh probe into the deaths.
Six children of the Badhaal family were admitted to GMC Rajouri on Sunday with symptoms of fever, sweating, vomiting, and dehydration after consuming sweet rice at a ‘fatiha’ function organised by their grandfather. Of them, three have died so far while the other three remained hospitalised in critical condition.
Hospital sources said Naveena Kousar (5) died around 1.45pm Sunday, followed by her brother Zahoor Ahmed (14) at 4.30pm the same day. The third sibling, Mohd Maroof (8), succumbed around 9.25am Monday. Officials said their samples were collected to determine the cause of death.
Earlier in Dec last year, nine members of two families from Badhaal had died of similar symptoms, police said, adding that the latest deaths have taken the toll to 12 in the village.
The family of the deceased siblings were related to the families of those who died in Dec, said epidemiologist and state surveillance officer (Jammu Division) Dr Harjeet Rai. He, however, refused to comment on the cause of the Dec deaths, citing that the FSL report was still awaited.
In an official communiqué, Rajouri district administration stated that DIG Rajouri-Poonch Tejinder Singh, Rajouri deputy commissioner Abhishek Sharma, and SSP Gaurav Sikarwar visited Badhaal to assess the situation and ensure immediate support to the community. “As part of the relief measures, DC Rajouri deployed ambulances, health teams and ASHA workers to provide essential medical assistance to the residents,” a spokesperson said, while urging public to not panic and to follow health advisories issued by authorities.
Following the Dec deaths, a team of experts from different premier medical institutions, including ICMR, and a Biosafety-level 3 mobile laboratory had been sent to Rajouri on directions of the Directorate of Health Services, New Delhi, to expedite testing and identify the mysterious illness in Badhaal. The team remains stationed there.
