BBC Hindi
YEARSAuthorities are investigating the “mysterious” deaths of 17 folks, most of them youngsters, in the identical village in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The deaths, together with that of 12 youngsters, occurred in distant Badhal village in Rajouri district of Jammu on December 7.
The victims initially confirmed signs just like meals poisoning however immediately misplaced consciousness, well being officers stated.
The village has been declared a containment zone, however officers have stated the illness doesn’t look like contagious and there’s no worry of an epidemic.
Dr AS Bhatia, head of a neighborhood hospital, stated the primary 5 sufferers admitted, together with 4 youngsters, had signs just like meals poisoning, together with vomiting and diarrhoea. Others complained of sore throats and respiratory issues.
But then everybody would immediately lose consciousness, he added.
The federal authorities has ordered an investigation. A particular investigation group established by the native administration, consisting of law enforcement officials, pathologists and different specialists questioned dozens of individuals to date.
According to preliminary investigations, the trigger may very well be the consumption of contaminated meals and water. Village residents have been requested to not drink water from a neighborhood spring after a pattern confirmed it contained traces of pesticides.
The deaths occurred between December 7 and January 19 and the victims belonged to a few associated households. Six of the youngsters who died had been brotherswith ages starting from seven to fifteen years. Their houses had been sealed.
Although docs have dominated out the potential of an infection, an administrative order stated folks recognized as shut contacts of the three households might be shifted to a authorities hospital in Rajouri, the place their situation might be monitored. The order additionally asks all different residents of Badhal to devour solely meals and water offered by the administration.
“All edible materials current in contaminated households might be seized by the authorities,” the order reads.
At least 10 folks had been admitted for remedy in hospitals in Rajouri, Jammu and Chandigarh cities.
Dr Shuja Quadri, an epidemiologist on the Government Medical College in Rajouri, stated the illness was localized and the potential of viral, bacterial, protozoan and zoonotic infections had been dominated out.
In the second group of sufferers hospitalized on December 12, 5 folks, together with a one-year-old baby, recovered.
“This has been a ray of hope for us,” Dr. Bhatia stated.
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