Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has constituted an inter-ministerial team to investigate the mysterious deaths of 16 people in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district in over a month.
In the past 45 days, 16 people have died of a mysterious illness in Budhal village of Rajouri district. The victims complained of fever, pain, nausea and loss of consciousness before dying within days of their admission to hospitals. A girl is said to be critical.
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Authorities have ruled out the possibility of any communicable disease behind the deaths. However, a doctor said the MRI scan of the patients revealed oedema in the brain, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain tissue, known as neurotoxins.
The inter-ministerial team will visit Budhal village on Sunday to investigate the causes of three incidents that took place during the last six weeks.
The team comprises experts from the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Agriculture, Chemicals and Fertilisers, and Water Resources, along with experts from Animal Husbandry, Food Safety and Forensic Science. It will work with the local administration to provide immediate relief and take measures to prevent such incidents in future.
Experts from leading institutions of the country have been appointed to understand the causes of the incident and control the situation. The aim of the team is to ensure safety and relief measures in the affected area.
Recently, a newly formed special investigation team of police rounded up over 60 people for questioning as part of its investigation after autopsy reports of victims’ by CSIR-IITR revealed the presence of neurotoxins.
OMAR ABDULLAH HOLDS MEETING
On Friday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a high-level meeting to discuss the situation in Badhal and directed the health and police departments to expedite investigations into the mysterious deaths of the 16 people.
Located about 55km from Rajouri district headquarters, the villagers are gripped by fear and want the mystery to be resolved already.
National Conference leader Javid Iqbal Choudhary described the situation as a “big challenge” and said the Chief Minister had been monitoring since day one.
“It is a big challenge for all of us. I appeal to the people if anyone has any clue, please come forward and help in the ongoing investigations,” he told PTI.
“The government responded to the situation in a very sensitive manner, leaving nothing to chance. Health teams from within and outside Jammu and Kashmir were mobilised and all the villagers were screened within the shortest possible time,” he said.
GOVERNMENT RULES OUT COMMUNICABLE DISEASE ANGLE
Earlier, a government spokesperson said investigations and samples empirically indicate that the incidents were not due to a communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin and that there is no public health angle.
“All samples taken from the victims and the villagers have tested negative for any viral or bacteriological aetiology. The tests were conducted on different samples in some of the most reputed labs in the country. The toxicological analysis conducted by CSIR-IITR has detected toxins in multiple biological specimens,” he said.
Abdullah said his government was monitoring the situation with the highest priority.
“The health and safety of our people remain our top priority. The government is fully committed to resolving this crisis and ensuring justice for the affected families,” he earlier said.
(with inputs from PTI)
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
