Seven people from two families, including a man and his four children, as well as two siblings from another couple, tragically died in Badhal village, Kotranka, in Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, due to suspected food poisoning. The deaths occurred in two separate incidents, one on December 8 and the other on December 12.
Following the incidents, health authorities expressed concerns that the deaths may have been caused by foodborne toxins or a viral infection, prompting a team of experts to assist in the ongoing investigation. On Saturday, experts from three of India’s top health institutions—the National Institute of Virology (Pune), PGI Chandigarh, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Delhi—arrived in the village to aid local authorities.
Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Principal of the Government Medical College in Jammu, stated that initial findings suggested viral infections might be behind the deaths. However, he emphasized that further investigations were needed to confirm the exact cause. “More time is required to study and analyze to determine whether these deaths were due to a viral outbreak or some form of toxin,” Dr. Gupta explained.
Despite the grave situation, health officials reassured the public that there was no immediate threat. “The situation is under control, and there is no need for panic. We have not observed any new cases of abnormal symptoms such as fever, body aches, or drowsiness among the villagers,” Dr. Gupta added.
Health teams have been actively screening the local population of more than 1,800 people for any symptoms. So far, no additional cases have been reported, and authorities are continuing their work to ensure the safety and health of the residents.
The investigation into the suspected food poisoning is ongoing, and authorities are committed to finding the source of the deadly outbreak to prevent further casualties.
Sources By Agencies