In a startling turn of events, 17 people, mostly children have lost their lives in the past two months in Badhaal village, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. While official laboratory results are still awaited, doctors now strongly suspect organophosphorus poisoning as the root cause.
For an earlier update on this story, visit: https://info.eka.care/eka-news/mysterious-deaths-in-j-ks-rajouri-viral-infection-suspected-probe-underway
Recent Developments:
•Patients showed marked improvement when administered atropine
•Over a dozen affected individuals at GMC Rajouri, GMC Jammu, SMGS Srinagar, and PGI Chandigarh are now reported to be stable, with several already discharged.
•Investigations ruled out bacterial, viral, and zoonotic diseases. The focus has now shifted to a possible accidental or deliberate ingestion of toxic compounds, commonly found in pesticides or nerve agents.
•Authorities quarantined multiple families and sealed a local water source after traces of insecticides were detected. No new cases have surfaced in the last few days, hinting at a stabilizing situation.
•Samples have been dispatched to specialized toxicology labs for screening against 200 potential toxins. Official confirmation is expected soon.
"We compared the treatments given to those patients who died and who recovered. After a comparative study, we found that doctors had given atropine to two patients in December and both survived," said Dr. A.S. Bhatia, Principal GMC Rajouri.
What’s Next?
• Police Inquiry: A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing all angles, including possible contamination or deliberate poisoning.
• Government Assurance: Health Minister Sakina Itoo has reiterated the administration’s commitment to identifying the cause and safeguarding the community.
For now, doctors remain optimistic that timely administration of atropine can prevent further loss of life, while the final toxicology reports will confirm whether organophosphorus compounds are indeed responsible for these tragic fatalities.
