Initial reports in the mysterious deaths in Jammu and Kashmir has suggested the presence of neurotoxins in the samples of the dead.
As 14 people die in a Kashmir village in a month, administration asked the officials to study reports to find out the cause.
The report confirmed the presence of certain neurotoxins in the samples of the dead, which are being further investigated to find out the reasons behind these deaths, officials said.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo held a high level meeting with divisional and district administration officials & health experts from national institutions to review the measures taken so far in Badhal village, Rajouri district.
The Chief Secretary asked the Health and Police departments to work together and thoroughly go through the reports received from different institutions to find out the real reason of these deaths, an official spokesperson said.
He directed the police to use all resources including scientific methods to speed up the investigation. Similarly, the health department was asked to study these reports to get some leads of the deaths.
"The reports furnished by different institutions are now available, and more are expected soon. These should suffice to conclude the investigations and pinpoint the possible reasons behind the deaths in this particular village," Dulloo said.
During the meeting, Dulloo heard from the experts who had analyzed the samples collected from the affected individuals and the area. He also asked for their suggestions for further course of action.
Experts told the meeting that extensive microbiological studies have ruled out viral, bacterial or microbial infections as the cause of deaths. Instead, the deaths seem to be localized & epidemiologically linked, the spokesperson said.
It was also disclosed that certain neurotoxins were found in the samples of the dead, which are being further investigated, the spokesperson added.
From December 7, 2024, 14 out of 38 affected individuals have died in three separate incidents in Badhal village. The reasons are unknown, officials said.
Government has taken several measures including deployment of Rapid Response Teams, sampling of humans and animals, testing of water sources and sought help from national institutions to find out the actual cause of these deaths.
