Jammu: As one more minor hailing from Badhal village of Rajouri district died on Wednesday, taking the death toll to 15, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that investigations are underway to ascertain the actual cause behind these unfortunate deaths.
Official sources said that 10-year-old Zabina Kousar, the 5th child of Mohammad Aslam, succumbed in SMGS hospital at 9 pm.
Meanwhile, as Rajouri district remains in the grip of panic following a health crisis that has claimed almost 14 lives, in Budhal village, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that investigations are underway to ascertain the actual cause behind these unfortunate deaths.
While speaking on the issue, Sakeena Itoo said that the entire team of health department visited the affected village and checked more than three thousand people door-to-door. She added that the teams collected samples of all kinds like water, food and other samples and sent the same for tests.
The Minister added that all the tests have been diagnosed negative. “All the sample tests that have been taken, whether it is water, food grains, rest of the things they used there including biscuits, whatever it is and all reports were found negative”, Sakeena Itoo said. She added that even all the influenza tests have also been diagnosed as negative.
The Minister further said that the health department got some samples tested outside through national institutes like ICMR, National Institute of Virology, National Centre for Disease control, CSIR, DRDO, PGIMER Chandigarh and others and all reports were found negative.
The Minister further added that the deaths were among the three families in total living at a distance of one and a half kilometers from each other. She highlighted that during these 40 days, the health department kept all facilities available in the affected area like ambulances, medicines and other essential drugs to meet any exigency.
“In 40 days, God forbid, a COVID disease comes, or some other infectious disease happens, it spreads. But there is no health-related issue found till date”, Sakeena said.
The Minister continued that the matter is under investigation now and the police department and district administration will investigate further what the real issue is.
Sakeena Itoo also expressed deepest condolences with the families of the deceased and assured the public that the government is treating this matter with the utmost urgency and seriousness.
“The well-being of our citizens is our top priority and we will leave no stone unturned in uncovering the root cause behind these tragic deaths”, the Minister maintained.
She appealed the public to remain calm and extend full support to the district administration during investigation being carried out to ascertain the actual cause of deaths.
police here have constituted a special investigation team to probe the mysterious death of 14 people, including 11 children, belonging to three families in a remote village in Rajouri district, officials said on Wednesday.
Amid growing concern over the mysterious deaths in the Badhaal village over the past one month, the administration has directed officials to analyse reports from institutions to identify the cause of the deaths.
Initial reports indicate the presence of certain neurotoxins in the samples of the deceased, which are being further investigated to determine the reasons behind these fatalities.
The 11-member special investigation team (SIT) headed by the Superintendent of Police (Operations) Budhal, Wajahat Hussain, has been formed keeping in view the sensitivity of the inquest proceedings initiated into the deaths, said an order by Senior Superintendent of Police of Rajouri, Gaurav Sikarwar.
According to four daily diary reports (DDRs) registered at the Kandi police station on December 7, 12, 23 and January 12, a total of 14 people — a man and his four children, a woman and her three children and a man and his four grandchildren –- died under suspicious circumstances.
Deputy Superintendent of Police of Kandi Vikram Sarmhal, SHO of Kandi Abrar Khan, SHO of women police station in Rajouri Sushma Thakur, Inspector Rajeev Kumar, Sub-Inspector Pankaj Sharma and Assistant Sub-inspector Pawan Sharma have been included as members of the SIT, the order stated.
The SIT also included experts from the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department, Microbiology Department, Paediatrics Department and the Pathology Department.
According to the order, the SIT in charge will also use the service of experts from food safety, agriculture, Jal Shakti (Public Health Engineering) Departments and experts of the FSL team, Jammu, for investigation.
The team has been directed to share the progress of the investigation with the district police office on a weekly basis.
Police sets up SIT to probe 14 ‘mysterious deaths’ in Rajouri
Jammu, Jan 15 (PTI) The police here have constituted a special investigation team to probe the mysterious death of 14 people, including 11 children, belonging to three families in a remote village in Rajouri district, officials said on Wednesday.
Amid growing concern over the mysterious deaths in the Badhaal village over the past one month, the administration has directed officials to analyse reports from institutions to identify the cause of the deaths.
Initial reports indicate the presence of certain neurotoxins in the samples of the deceased, which are being further investigated to determine the reasons behind these fatalities.
The 11-member special investigation team (SIT) headed by the Superintendent of Police (Operations) Budhal, Wajahat Hussain, has been formed keeping in view the sensitivity of the inquest proceedings initiated into the deaths, said an order by Senior Superintendent of Police of Rajouri, Gaurav Sikarwar.
According to four daily diary reports (DDRs) registered at the Kandi police station on December 7, 12, 23 and January 12, a total of 14 people — a man and his four children, a woman and her three children and a man and his four grandchildren –- died under suspicious circumstances.
Deputy Superintendent of Police of Kandi Vikram Sarmhal, SHO of Kandi Abrar Khan, SHO of women police station in Rajouri Sushma Thakur, Inspector Rajeev Kumar, Sub-Inspector Pankaj Sharma and Assistant Sub-inspector Pawan Sharma have been included as members of the SIT, the order stated.
The SIT also included experts from the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department, Microbiology Department, Paediatrics Department and the Pathology Department.
According to the order, the SIT in charge will also use the service of experts from food safety, agriculture, Jal Shakti (Public Health Engineering) Departments and experts of the FSL team, Jammu, for investigation.
The team has been directed to share the progress of the investigation with the district police office on a weekly basis.
BJP slams NC-led govt for its response to ‘mysterious’ deaths in Rajouri
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP launched a scathing attack on the National Conference-led government in the Union Territory on Wednesday for its “inaction” over the “mysterious” deaths of 13 people, including 11 children, in a remote village in Rajouri district.
It urged the Centre to rush experts to properly investigate the cause of the fatalities in Badhaal village of Kotranka Sub-Division over the last month and a half.
“The mysterious deaths in the village in Rajouri is a cause of concern for everyone and shows the (Chief Minister) Omar Abdullah-led government’s apathy and failure to address the crisis-like situation,” Jammu and Kashmir BJP spokesperson Tahir Choudhary told reporters at the party headquarters here.
He accused the government of not taking any concrete steps or on-ground measures to tackle the situation.
Calling for immediate intervention, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader appealed to the Centre to deploy a team of experts to collect samples from villages, water sources and local markets in Rajouri.
He also urged police to initiate a probe to rule out any potential foul play contributing to the deaths.
“The Omar Abdullah-led administration has failed to prioritise the health and safety of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Such negligence is unacceptable and the government must take immediate responsibility to ensure that this crisis is brought under control,” Choudhary said.
Thirteen people, including 11 children, have died in Badhaal (eight in December and five this month). The victims hailed from three families that live in close vicinity and are related to each other.(PTI)
