A mysterious illness has caused 17 deaths and affected at least 38 people in Badhaal village, Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, since December 2024, Indian website Firstpost reported on Monday. The latest victim passed away on Sunday at a government hospital in Jammu.
Authorities have linked the outbreak to water contamination after traces of pesticides or insecticides were found in a local spring. The spring has been sealed, and security personnel have been deployed to prevent its use.
An inter-ministerial team, ordered by the Union Health Ministry, visited the area to investigate the outbreak. Experts from top medical institutions have conducted tests on water, food, and blood samples, ruling out viral, bacterial, or microbiological infections. Initial findings suggest the presence of neurotoxins in the samples.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the deaths, and three houses of affected families have been sealed. Close relatives of the victims have been relocated to government facilities for monitoring. Authorities continue efforts to identify the source of the illness and prevent further casualties.
