Mystery disease claims 3 more lives in Rajouri’s Badhaal village

A series of unexplained deaths in Badhaal village of Rajouri has left the health authorities in Jammu and Kashmir perplexed. After a minor girl died due to ‘unknown reasons’ on Sunday, two of her siblings also passed away later that evening, bringing the total death toll in the village to 13 since last month.

Meanwhile, another person related to the affected family, identified as Mohd. Yusuf (62), died at GMC Rajouri on Monday evening.

Despite extensive testing and sample collection, authorities have failed to determine the cause of the deaths, which include 10 minors and three adults. One of the adults, a pregnant woman, is alleged to have died due to medical negligence, leading to the suspension of several doctors from GMC Rajouri.

Local activists have criticised the health department for its inability to pinpoint the cause, especially since the first case was reported on December 8, 2024.

Mohammad Aslam, a local driver whose three children are affected, shared details of the tragic sequence. His children, after experiencing sweating and anxiety, were initially treated by a local doctor, but their condition worsened, and three of them died at GMC Rajouri. The remaining three children are being treated in a hospital in Jammu. The deceased have been identified as Maroof Ahmed, Zahoor Ahmed, and Naveena Kauser.

While talking to The Tribune, Aslam pointed out that 13 deaths have occurred in three related families, raising suspicions about the cause. “If it were a virus or an infection, other villagers would have been affected too, but only people in these families are impacted,” he said. He has urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

State Epidemiologist Dr Harjeet Rai declined to comment on the situation. However, reports indicate that the health department is awaiting toxicity and forensic reports to help identify the cause of the deaths.