Rajouri:
In a dire and mysterious turn of events, the village of Badhal in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district has been transformed into a containment zone following the sudden and unexplained deaths of 17 residents, including 13 children. This unprecedented crisis has prompted a multifaceted response from local and central authorities, who are scrambling to identify the cause of the illness and contain its spread.
Medical teams, bolstered by a central team of experts, are at the forefront of the investigation, conducting extensive tests and analyzing over 200 samples to uncover the root of the mysterious illness. The village, now under strict restrictions, including the imposition of Section 144, is a scene of heightened vigilance and concern.
Containment and Restrictions
The containment zone in Badhal village was established after a series of tragic events unfolded, starting on December 7, 2024, when five individuals, including four children, died after consuming a community meal. This was followed by more deaths, with a total of 17 lives lost over the past one and a half months. The district administration has set up checkpoints on all routes leading to the village, ensuring that only essential supplies such as ration and drinking water are allowed through.
Public and private gatherings have been strictly prohibited to prevent the spread of the disease. Medical teams are working tirelessly to provide treatment and conduct tests to identify the cause of the illness. Despite these efforts, the symptoms of the illness—fever, sweating, vomiting, dehydration, and episodic loss of consciousness—remain baffling, with initial tests failing to detect any bacterial or viral infections.
Medical and Security Measures
The health infrastructure in the region has been significantly reinforced. Rajouri’s Government Medical College (GMC) has been strengthened with the deployment of five child specialists and five anesthesia specialists. Advanced care ambulances are on standby at the GMC Hospital Rajouri, ready to handle any emergency situations. Currently, six patients from Badhal village are undergoing treatment at the hospital and are showing signs of recovery.
Security checks are stringent, with police personnel stationed to control entry into the restricted areas. Nurses and paramedics are working around the clock to manage the situation, ensuring that patients are taken to Rajouri for further treatment if their condition deteriorates. The local administration, along with health officials, is maintaining a logbook to record every instance of food distribution and consumption, a measure aimed at monitoring potential sources of the illness.
Community and Official Response
The community in Badhal village is gripped by fear and uncertainty. Local residents, such as Shafeel Choudhary, have highlighted the rapid spread of the illness and the measures taken by the administration to quarantine those who came into contact with the affected individuals. MLA Budhal Javaid Iqbal has appealed to the Union government for air ambulances to facilitate the airlifting of patients in emergency situations.
As the investigation continues, an inter-ministerial team and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) are working in tandem to determine the cause of the deaths. The situation remains critical, with the entire village under close surveillance and stringent health monitoring.
