Srinagar, Jan 17: The Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed another death on Friday, as an elderly woman passed away at GMC Rajouri, bringing the death toll to 16.
Jatti Begum (60), a resident of Badhaal village, succumbed at GMC Associated Hospital, two days after her husband, Muhammad Yousuf (62), died. Tragically, five children from the same family have also fallen victim to the mysterious illness.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has reassured the public that there is no need to panic. According to the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department, investigations have ruled out communicable diseases of bacterial or viral origin.
“All samples have tested negative for any viral or bacteriological etiology,” a press release stated. Tests were conducted at leading laboratories, including the National Institute of Virology, Pune; National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi; and PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Toxicological analyses by CSIR-IITR have detected toxins in multiple biological specimens, indicating potential poisoning as the cause.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by Rajouri police to probe the deaths further.
Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakina Itoo visited the affected area, held discussions with local authorities, and emphasized providing necessary healthcare to the victims.
Experts from top institutions have been mobilized to manage the situation, with the Secretary of Health Research and DG of ICMR, Dr. Rajeev Bahl, coordinating efforts to rule out an epidemic and pinpoint the root cause.
The government affirmed its commitment to public safety and has intensified efforts to address the crisis.
Sad. Unfortunately