Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir – Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Badhal village in Rajouri district on Tuesday to support families grieving the loss of 17 people, including 13 children, who died under mysterious circumstances in the last month and a half.
When he arrived at the village, about 55 kilometers from the Rajouri district headquarters, Abdullah, along with local MLA Javaid Iqbal Choudhary, went to the graveyard to offer special prayers for the deceased.
The Chief Minister expressed his sympathy to the families, especially to Mohd Aslam, who lost six children, as well as his uncle and aunt, who had taken him in. Aslam and his wife are the only survivors in their family after this tragedy.
The deaths happened between December 7 and January 19 and involved three families that are related to each other. Abdullah’s visit came on the same day that a high-level team from the government was in the village to investigate the cause of these deaths.
A government spokesperson said that tests showed the deaths were not caused by any contagious disease, so there is no public health risk.
A Special Investigation Team has been set up after some neurotoxins were found in samples from the deceased. Authorities have also sealed a spring in the village after tests showed it contained pesticides and insecticides.
Officials are continuing to investigate the situation to find out what caused these tragic deaths and to keep the community safe.
