J&K: The remote village of Badhal in Jammu & Kashmir's Rajouri district has been shaken by the deaths of 17 people due to an unidentified illness, leaving the authorities scrambling for answers. The mysterious disease, which first surfaced on December 7 last year, continues to baffle medical experts and investigators. Among the victims, Mohammad Aslam’s family has suffered the worst loss, with eight members, including his parents and six children, succumbing to the illness.

MHA Sends Team To Probe Mysterious Deaths

The Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed an 11-member Inter-Ministerial team to investigate the deaths. The team arrived in Rajouri on January 19, and shortly after, the toll rose to 17 when Yasmeen, a minor girl, passed away at SMGS Hospital in Jammu after battling the illness for days on ventilator support. The team has since met local officials, visited the affected village, and taken stock of the situation, as reported by India Today.

In parallel, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the J&K Police is probing potential criminal angles, including a conspiracy. Despite questioning suspects and analyzing their mobile data, no significant breakthroughs have been made. Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha expressed hope that the investigations by the Inter-Ministerial team and the SIT would soon uncover the cause of the deaths. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary visited the village, assuring residents of the government’s full support and promising stern action if foul play is detected.

Pesticides & Insecticides Found In Nearby Water Spring

A key development in the investigation points to contamination of the village’s water spring, locally known as ‘Bawli.’ Water samples from the spring tested positive for pesticides and insecticides, prompting authorities to seal it and restrict access. Experts from institutions like the Indian Institute of Virology, PGI Chandigarh and AIIMS Delhi have found traces of neurotoxins in the victims but ruled out viral or bacterial infections. Symptoms reported include fever and excessive sweating.

Neurotoxins, which disrupt the nervous system, are found in substances like pesticides, heavy metals and even everyday items like monosodium glutamate.