Jammu, Jan 16: Following a series of unexplained deaths in village Budhal, Rajouri, that claimed 14 lives, toxicological analysis has revealed the presence of toxins in biological specimens, ruling out any communicable disease. One child remains in critical condition at SMGS hospital.
According to a government press statement, extensive testing at multiple premier national laboratories has conclusively eliminated bacterial or viral causes, indicating no public health risk. The tests were conducted at the National Institute of Virology (Pune), National Centre for Disease Control (New Delhi), National Institute of Toxicology and Research (Lucknow), Defence Research Development Establishment (Gwalior), PGIMER (Chandigarh), and ICMR-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, GMC Jammu.
The incidents unfolded in three phases:
- December 7, 2024: Seven family members fell ill after a community meal, resulting in five deaths
- December 12, 2024: Nine family members were affected, with three fatalities
- January 12, 2025: Ten family members, including six children, were hospitalized after consuming a community meal
The government’s response has been swift and multi-faceted. Health Minister Ms. Sakina Itoo personally visited the affected area and conducted multiple meetings with relevant departments. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has been coordinating with health authorities, technical experts, and law enforcement to ensure comprehensive investigation and healthcare delivery.
Dr. Rajeev Bahl, Secretary Department of Health Research, MOHFW and DG ICMR, conducted a video conference to assess the situation and rule out epidemic possibilities.
Immediate measures taken by the government included:
- Deployment of medical teams and food safety officials
- Establishment of medical camps and mobile units
- Door-to-door health screening
- Formation of rapid action teams
- Collection of food and water samples
Expert teams from various national institutions, including epidemiologists and microbiologists, conducted detailed screening and contact tracing. The recent toxicological analysis by CSIR-IITR detecting toxins in multiple biological specimens has provided a crucial breakthrough.
In light of these findings, the Rajouri police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the deaths. The government has reiterated its commitment to protecting public safety and continues to monitor the situation closely.
