• Source:JND
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Two months after the 'mysterious deaths' of 17 people in Budhal village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, the authorities have sealed all pesticide and insecticide shops as part of preventive actions. The district authorities carried out surprise inspections of stores selling insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers, leading to the closure of these establishments as part of legal measures to address the situation.

At least 11 patients, who had been admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) following illness in Budhal village, have fully recovered and were discharged on Tuesday, news agency IANS reported citing officials. 

A joint team comprising officials from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Food and Drugs Control Organization, and police, led by an executive magistrate, carried out surprise inspections at approximately 250 outlets across the district. This initiative followed a three-day visit by a team of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

The AIIMS team, which included toxicology specialists, conducted medical examinations of patients from Badhal village and collected samples for an investigation into the recent deaths in the area. During their visit, the five-member team interviewed and recorded the clinical histories of 11 patients who are currently receiving treatment.

Dr AS Bhatia, the principal of GMCH in Rajouri, told news agency IANS that all patients who came to the hospital with symptoms of the mysterious illness were successfully treated with atropine, and all survived. He explained that atropine is an antidote for organophosphorus poisoning, which leads him to believe the 17 deaths were caused by organophosphorus toxins.

When asked why doctors in Jammu and Kashmir failed to identify the poison, Dr Bhatia clarified that the usual symptom of organophosphorus poisoning is dilated pupils, but the victims admitted to the hospital showed symptoms like high fever, vomiting, excessive sweating, and unconsciousness, with constricted pupils instead.

The first death was reported on December 7, 2024, when a family of seven became ill after attending a community meal, resulting in five deaths. On December 12, another family of nine was affected, leading to three fatalities. The third incident took place on January 12, when a family of 10 fell ill following a community meal, with six children being hospitalized.