Mystery in Jammu: 16 Deaths in 45 Days in Rajouri, Linked to Neurotoxins? Clarified

In Budhal village of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, a mysterious illness has led to the deaths of 16 individuals over the past 45 days, raising alarms in the area. In response, the government has formed teams to investigate these incidents.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a meeting to address the situation, instructing health and police officials to speed up the investigation and determine the causes behind the deaths.

“The mysterious nature of these fatalities is very alarming. The government is dedicated to finding the underlying cause and ensuring the safety of our citizens. All departments must work together and thoroughly investigate this matter,” Abdullah stated during the meeting. He emphasized that his administration is focused on resolving the crisis and providing justice for the grieving families. The meeting was attended by Health Minister Sakeena Itoo and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, among others.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has instructed the formation of an inter-ministerial team led by the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the causes of the deaths in Budhal village, Rajouri. This team will include experts from various ministries, including Health and Family Welfare, Agriculture, Chemicals and Fertilisers, and Water Resources.

When did the first incident take place?

The first incident occurred on December 7, 2024, when a family of seven fell ill after having a community meal, resulting in five deaths. Following this, on December 12, another family of nine was affected, leading to three fatalities. The third incident took place a month later, on January 12, when a family of ten fell ill after yet another community meal, with six children being hospitalized. Tragically, 10-year-old Zabeena Kouser passed away at Jammu’s SMGS Hospital, and her 15-year-old sister Yasmeen Kouser was reported to be in critical condition. The government has stated that it is taking various measures to determine the root cause of this illness.

How much progress has been made in the investigation?

Health department teams have performed door-to-door surveys with more than 3,000 residents in the affected region and have gathered and tested samples of water, food, and other materials.

“All test results, including those for influenza and potential contaminants, have returned negative,” an official stated.

He added that even comprehensive testing by top national institutes, such as ICMR, the National Institute of Virology, the National Centre for Disease Control, CSIR, DRDO, and PGIMER-Chandigarh, has not been able to pinpoint a clear cause for the deaths.

According to the police, the fatalities were limited to three families living within a 1.5 km radius of each other. Further investigation is ongoing to determine any connections or reasons behind the deaths.

The health department has been active in the area for more than 40 days since the first death occurred, providing ambulances and essential services to handle emergencies, according to officials.

Jatti Begum, 60, who died from unknown causes on Friday, is the most recent victim in this series of deaths. Another girl is still fighting for her life, they mentioned.

The victims are from Badhaal village in the Kotranka sub-division of Rajouri district, where 16 members of three families have died since December of last year, including seven deaths since Sunday.

Authorities have sealed off three homes belonging to the affected families and have relocated 21 close relatives to government facilities, where they will be monitored closely.

However, autopsy reports from CSIR-IITR indicated the presence of neurotoxins in the deceased individuals.

How did the residents react?

A new graveyard has been set up on agricultural land owned by Mohammad Aslam, who sadly lost five children, as well as his maternal uncle and aunt, between January 12 and 17.

Yasmeena Jan, Aslam’s only surviving daughter, is in critical condition.

However, reports indicate that no other villagers have reported any illness, which adds to the mystery surrounding the situation.

The first deaths occurred on December 7 when Aslam’s brother-in-law, Fazal Hussain, and his four children died under suspicious circumstances, which were initially blamed on food poisoning after they attended a wedding.

On December 12, Aslam’s cousin, Mohd Rafiq, lost his pregnant wife and three children.

A resident mentioned that their fear of dying has never been as intense as it is right now.

What was the response of the politicians?

A delegation from the BJP visited the village on Thursday to meet with the victims’ families and promised that strict measures would be taken if any signs of foul play are discovered.

Led by former J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina, the delegation went to Budhal to offer condolences and assure the families that justice would be served.

“The heartbreaking loss of these precious lives has devastated the entire region, and our party stands with the families during this challenging time,” he stated.

LG Manoj Sinha also reached out to the grieving families and guaranteed prompt action.

“This situation is extremely concerning. The loss of valuable lives has emotionally impacted us all,” Raina mentioned, adding that the LG administration is treating the matter seriously and exploring all possible angles.

Health Minister Sakina Masood noted that the situation is being regularly monitored.

“Investigations and sample analyses show that the incidents are not linked to any communicable disease caused by bacteria or viruses, and there is no public health concern,” she stated.

What are neurotoxins? 

Neurotoxins are substances that interfere with the normal functioning of the nervous system by damaging or impairing nerve cells, known as neurons. They can impact the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, causing a range of symptoms that vary based on the specific toxin and its severity.

These substances can be naturally produced by organisms like bacteria, plants, or animals, or they can be synthetic chemicals.

Experts from the health department stated on Saturday that the deaths in the village were attributed to neurotoxins. Dr. AS Bhatia, the Principal of Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri, mentioned that the deceased individuals had a common medical issue — brain swelling, or edema.

Dr. Bhatia also noted that the neurotoxins detected in the samples analyzed by leading laboratories in the country led to brain damage.

“We make efforts to address the issue of patients coming in with brain damage, but once a patient arrives with severe brain damage, we cannot reverse the situation,” Dr. Bhatia stated.

Samples taken from the village were examined at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Institute of Virology in Pune, and other laboratories. The tests eliminated the possibility of any communicable disease, as no viruses or bacteria were found. However, the results confirmed that toxins were present in the samples that were analyzed.