Synopsis
In response to 17 unexplained deaths in Budhal village, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district have sealed all pesticide and insecticide shops. This action followed investigations into a mysterious illness and the recovery of 11 patients at the local hospital.Key Takeaways
- All pesticide and insecticide shops in Rajouri have been sealed.
- 17 mysterious deaths reported in Budhal village.
- 11 patients have recovered after treatment.
- Investigations are ongoing regarding the cause of the deaths.
- Joint teams conducted surprise inspections of local outlets.
Jammu, Feb 6 (NationPress) All pesticide and insecticide shops have been sealed by authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Rajouri district as part of preventive measures taken after 17 ‘mysterious deaths’ occurred in Budhal village, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Officials indicated that as part of an ongoing investigation and precautionary legal actions following the 17 fatalities over the past nine weeks linked to a mysterious illness in Budhal village, authorities conducted unannounced inspections of all insecticide, pesticide, and fertiliser stores in the district, resulting in their closure.
According to officials, 11 individuals who had been admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) after falling ill in Budhal village have fully recovered and were discharged on Tuesday.
In a significant action taken late in the evening, surprise inspections of all insecticide, pesticide, and fertiliser stores commenced, followed by the immediate closure of these outlets until further notice.
Joint teams from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Food and Drugs Control Organisation, along with police assistance and led by an executive magistrate, executed simultaneous surprise inspections at all these outlets across the district.
The total number of these stores is thought to be around 250.
This action followed a visit from a team of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, who concluded a three-day investigation in Rajouri.
They evaluated patients from Badhal village and collected a variety of samples as part of their inquiry into the recent deaths in the region.
During their stay, the five-member team, including toxicology specialists, conducted interviews and gathered clinical histories from the 11 patients currently in treatment.
Dr A.S. Bhatia, principal of GMCH, Rajouri, informed IANS that all patients who presented with symptoms of the mysterious illness were treated with atropine, and all have survived.
Dr Bhatia noted that atropine is an antidote for organophosphorus poison, leading to the belief that the 17 fatalities may have resulted from organophosphorus poisoning.
When questioned why the doctors in J&K failed to identify the lethal poison, Dr Bhatia explained that the typical symptom of organophosphorus poisoning includes dilated pupils, but the admitted patients exhibited constricted pupils along with high fever, vomiting, excessive sweating, and unconsciousness.
“The reason behind patients with organophosphorus poisoning showing constricted pupils in these cases is under investigation,” Dr Bhatia stated.
“The positive news is that all 11 patients who reported to the hospital with symptoms of the mysterious disease are now receiving atropine, and none of them have succumbed; they have been discharged after recovery,” he concluded.
