All residents of a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, who were placed in isolation following a series of unexplained deaths, have now returned home. The final 13 individuals were discharged from a Rajouri isolation center on Wednesday, completing the return of all 395 villagers over the past week.
These villagers, from the Badhaal village in Kotranka Sub-division, had been isolated for over three weeks after 17 members of three families, including 13 children, tragically died between December 7 and January 19. The deaths occurred under mysterious circumstances, prompting a comprehensive investigation.
Earlier, approximately 350 residents from 17 families returned on February 13, followed by another 32 on February 15. While a special police investigation team and experts from leading health institutions have been involved, the exact cause of the deaths remains undetermined. However, a suspected neurotoxin within the food chain is considered a primary possibility.
Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri played a crucial role in managing the situation, with medical professionals working diligently to contain the outbreak and care for the isolated residents.
