Jammu/New Delhi: With detailed clinical reports on the ‘mystery disease’ in Kotranka’s Badhaal village in J&K’s Rajouri district, which has killed 17 members of three families since December 2024, still waiting, experts said rallies Higher levels of carbaments and organophosphates in the blood samples of the deceased may be the root cause of mass deaths. Meanwhile, three patients were discharged from GMC Jammu on Monday after recovering, officials said.
“The three patients, Tazeem Akhter (23), Khalida Bagum (18), Nazia Kouser (16), Daughters of Bagh Hussain of Badhaal, who were earlier referred to GMC Jammu on Monday,” an official said, adding, “Another The patient, Javid Ahmad (25), who was airlifted to PGI Chandigarh from GMC Jammu on January 22, has also recovered and may be discharged in a day or two.”
Carbamates and organophosphorus are used as sprays or baits to kill insects by affecting their brains and nervous systems. Presence of carbamates and organophosphates were found in the samples taken from the first three families and could be probable causes of the deaths in Badhaal, sources said, while adding that it was too early to find out detailed reports.
“By correlating the chain of events, preliminary investigation indicates that the toxins could have been ingested in the form of food that may have been accidentally consumed or administered deliberately,” an official said, adding: “The epidemiological diagnosis appears to be an acute intermittent intermittent exposure that occurs at different time intervals in specific people living in the same geographic area.
At least 17 people, including 14 minors, died while several were hospitalized due to the “mysterious” illness affecting Badhaal Village for the last two months. J&K police formed a session to investigate the deaths. The Union Home Ministry has been monitoring the situation and had earlier sent a multi-departmental committee to Badhaal to assess and help the J&K team address the health crisis. Sources said an Inter-mineral Committee, which includes representatives from the Health Ministry, is also monitoring the situation.