Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 13: With the death of yet another child in GMC Jammu today and another of an elderly person in GMC Rajouri, the death toll due to some ‘mysterious disease’ in Badhaal village of tehsil Budhal in Kotranka Sub Division of Rajouri district has reached 12, while the J&K Health authorities have failed to reach up to any conclusion about the cause.
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Mohd Aslam, hailing from the haunted village–Badhaal in Budhal Tehsil, lost his third child, 10 years-old Mohd Maroof in the SMGS Hospital, an Associated unit of the Govt Medical College Jammu at around 9.30 am on Monday. His two children, Zahoor Ahmed -14 yrs and Naveena Kouser -8 yrs, lost their lives due to `some deadly disease’ on Sunday in this hospital.
The second death of Mohd Yousuf (62), maternal uncle of Mohd Aslam, hailing from Badhaal village took place in GMC Rajouri at around 9.40 pm on Monday. He was shifted to GMC Rajouri this evening with same symptoms from CHC Kandi (Kotranka), a senior doctor at GMC Rajouri said.
The shell shocked and hapless parents of these children are sitting beside the beds of their remaining three ailing children-Yasmeen Akhtar-15 yrs, Zabina 10 yrs and Safina -6 yrs. The family has lost its both the male children- Zahoor (14 yrs) and Maroof (10 yrs). The condition of two children is said to be serious. All the three have been kept in the ICU of the GMC, Jammu.
Principal, GMC Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta said that the death of third child of Mohd Aslam from Budhal in Rajouri, occurred in the SMGS hospital at around 9.25 am today. He said the remaining three children have been kept in the isolation in ICU and are being monitored/supervised by the senior doctors.
Expressing surprise over the spree of deaths in Budhal village, GMC Principal said that two more teams of experts from NCDC Delhi and Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai are arriving here. They will also visit these children at GMC Jammu and then move to Badhaal village where the tragedy has struck. They will assess the situation and try to find out the cause behind these deaths.
Responding to a query Dr Gupta said it will be premature to say anything about the cause. Several teams have visited so far. The report of FSL is also awaited. He said only these three families, which are related to each other are affected. He, however, claimed that possibility of `some mischief’ can not be ruled out.
State Surveillance Officer, from DSE Jammu, Dr Harjeet Rai said that out of the six children of this family from Badhaal in Rajouri, three has lost their lives. The third one, a male, passed away this morning in GMC Jammu.
Dr Rai said Director Health Services Jammu and CMO Rajouri were there on the spot. A mobile Lab is already stationed there. Several Medical teams have visited the village so far. He said, ” No virus or bacteria was detected in the samples of these patients. It will be premature to say anything about the cause of these deaths, ” Dr Rai added.
He said on Dec 7, five members of a family including its head- Fazal, died due to `mysterious disease’. Again on Dec 12, 2024, three children of Mohd Rafiq died and on January 12 two children of Mohd Aslam died while his third child passed away today (Jan 13, 2025).
Six children of Mohammad Aslam, hailing from Badhaal village in Budhal, were brought to Community Health Centre Kandi (Kotranka) for medical check-up on Saturday evening. They had the symptoms like fever, sweating, vomiting, dehydration, episodic loss of consciousness etc.
The children were initially referred to the Government Medical College (GMC), Associated Hospital in Rajouri and later four of them were shifted to SMGS Hospital (GMC) Jammu where the girl, Naveena Kouser (8 yrs) breathed her last at 1.05 pm on Sunday, her brother, Zahoor Ahmed (14 yrs) at around 7.50 pm in the evening. .
CMO Rajouri, Dr M L Rana said that he was camping in the area along with a team of nearly 50 staff members . He said Director Health Services Jammu Dr Rakesh was also there in Kandi area to assess the situation. Moreover, various teams of experts from Pune’s National Institute of Virology, PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS Delhi and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, had also visited the village to assist in the investigations. He said there was no viral inspection, water of various sources in the area was also tested and it was found alright. The FSL report is awaited. However, it will be premature to say anything about the cause behind these deaths. He said all other villagers are fine. Only these three families which are related, are affected. The investigations on different angles have been also been launched, he added.
Meanwhile, DC Rajouri Abhishek Sharma was personally monitoring the situation. Additional DC Dil Mir also visited the area today to assess the situation. A total 272 samples were taken today to identify the potential health risks.
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