Mysterious illness claims three more lives in Badhaal village; death toll rose to 13

GoI rushed a team of experts from NCDC Delhi, ICMR Poona & Chennai rushed to Badhaal
Two minor brothers and grandfather among victims.
Health authorities, administration are helpless in tackling the prevailing situation

Shyam Sood
Rajouri, January 13: Mysterious illnesses, not identified yet either by experts from premier institutions of India or by the health department, have claimed three more lives in Badhaal village of Rajouri district on Sunday & Monday. The death toll rose to 13, including 10 children and two adults while Razeem Akhter (35) who had a 5-month pregnancy died in GMC Rajouri due to doctor’s negligence on December 23.
Razeem was mother of three siblings-who died due to highly infectious pathogen(s) in Badhaal.
In the month of December last year nine deaths were reported from Badhaal village, including 7 children (below 15 years) from two families. Fazal Hussain and his four children died due to mysterious illness between December 7 & 9 while three children and Razeem Akhter wife of Mohd Rafiq fell seriously ill on December 12 and died between December 12 & 23. After these deaths a team of experts from NCDC Delhi; ICMR Poona; & 2 doctors from PGIMR Chandigarh visited the affected village, collected samples from the affected area and of the patients for examination/ testing on the spot.
A team from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) along with Mobile Laboratory Vehicle visited Koteranka & investigated the cases and deaths in Badhaal.
But to date, no report either by FSL authorities (postmortem) and Central teams has been made public.
Health authorities here in J&K and particularly in Rajouri are helpless and finding it very difficult to handle the situation following continuous mysterious deaths.
Highly placed sources said that once again on the direction of Government of India, a team of experts from premier institutions, including National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Delhi; Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and a prominent `Epidemiologist from Chennai, is on its way to Badhaal and affected areas for further investigation about the mysterious deaths.
After a gap of about 25 days of last mysterious death, on January 12, six minor children of Mohd Aslam (Fazal Hussain’s sister) fell seriously ill at their home in Badhaal area and were brought to Associated Hospital Government Medical College (AH GMC) Rajouri for treatment.
After initial treatment, all were referred to SMGS Children hospital at Jammu where three, including two sons succumbed to mysterious illness on January 12 &13.
On January 13, the maternal uncle (Mama) Mohd Yousuf (62) of Mohd Aslam developed the same complication (like 3 grandchildren who died) and rushed to AH GMC Rajouri. Within 15 minutes of his admission, Mohd Yousuf also succumbed to a mysterious illness at 8.15 pm.
Those who died during the last two days have been identified as Zahoor Ahmed (14 years), Naveena Kousar (8), Mohd Maroof (10), children of Mohd Aslam and Mohd Yousuf.
Three daughters of Mohd Aslam namely Zabina Kousar (10), Safina Kousar (6), and Yasmeen Akhter (15) are under treatment in SMGS hospital Jammu.
“I have lost three children. Three daughters are under treatment in a hospital at Jammu. Doctors here at Jammu seem to be helpless to identify the cause of deaths. They only say, sorry we can’t save your children despite every effort,” said Mohd Aslam, a hapless father.
It is pertinent to mention here that As Mohd Yousuf had no children, he had adopted Mohd Aslam.
After the deaths of three children Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Rakesh Mangotra; DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range, Tejinder Singh; DC Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma and SSP, Gaurav visited Badhaal and adjoining areas and assessed the prevailing situation and assured the people every possible support from the administration and Health Department.
Director Health Services have sent additional doctors, equipment to CHC Koteranka for immediate help to victims of mysterious disease.
The Civil and Police administration of Rajouri and the health department under Chief Medical Officer, are actively addressing the situation. Health teams continuously monitor the situation and conduct essential medical check-ups to prevent further spread.