January 23, 2025: In a concerning development, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed that a mysterious toxin, rather than an infectious pathogen, is behind the unexplained deaths in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. This revelation follows a preliminary investigation conducted by the CSIR lab in Lucknow, which ruled out any viral or bacterial infection.

"Preliminary investigations have shown no signs of an infectious agent, whether viral or bacterial. Toxins have been found in the affected individuals, and further investigations are underway to determine the nature of these toxins," Dr. Singh told reporters.

The unexplained deaths have been linked to a series of fatalities that began on December 7, 2024, and continued until January 19, 2025. The majority of these deaths occurred within three families in the remote Badhaal village, leading to authorities declaring the area a containment zone and imposing strict prohibitory orders to avoid panic.

As of now, 17 people have lost their lives, with four more villagers currently in critical condition at a hospital. The deaths were marked by severe symptoms, including fever, intense pain, nausea, profuse sweating, and loss of consciousness. Many victims passed away just days after being hospitalized.

An 11-member inter-ministerial team, formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has already arrived in Rajouri district to investigate the mystery. Their arrival followed the death of a young girl at SMGS Hospital in Jammu, which increased the toll to 17.

Dr. Shuja Qadri, the senior epidemiologist and head of the Community Medicines Department at GMC Rajouri, stated that the deaths were not related to any communicable disease. The investigation has focused on identifying the toxin, with more than 200 food samples sent to various national laboratories for analysis.

“We expect to isolate the toxin within a week to 10 days, and once identified, we can implement control measures to prevent any further deaths,” Dr. Qadri explained.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, assuring the public that appropriate action will be taken if any foul play or conspiracy is uncovered. The investigation into this tragedy is ongoing, with hopes that the identification of the toxin will bring clarity and resolution to the mysterious deaths.