JAMMU, JANUARY 17 – Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting to address the alarming situation in Budhal village, Rajouri district, where 16 individuals have tragically lost their lives under mysterious circumstances, and one more victim succumbed to an unexplained illness.
During the meeting, the Secretary of Health & Medical Education briefed the Chief Minister on the actions taken thus far. He outlined that health department teams had conducted a door-to-door survey of over 3,000 residents in the affected area, gathering and testing water, food, and other materials. Despite comprehensive testing, including for influenza and other potential contaminants, all results returned negative.
Additional testing was carried out by leading national institutes, including the ICMR, National Institute of Virology, National Centre for Disease Control, CSIR, DRDO, and PGIMER Chandigarh. However, no definitive cause for the deaths has been identified as of yet. Police officials informed the meeting that investigations are ongoing to uncover the root cause of the fatalities, which have been confined to three families living within 1.5 kilometers of each other.
Expressing deep concern over the unexplained nature of these deaths, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged both the health and police departments to expedite their investigations. “The mysterious nature of these deaths is deeply troubling, and the government is fully committed to identifying the cause at the earliest. I call on all relevant departments to work in close coordination and leave no stone unturned in resolving this crisis,” he emphasised.
The meeting also highlighted that the health department has been actively engaged in the area for the past 40 days, providing ambulances, medical supplies, and other essential services to address any emergencies. In a show of solidarity, the Chief Minister extended his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families, assuring the public that the administration is treating the situation with utmost urgency.
“The health and safety of our citizens are our top priority. The government is resolutely committed to uncovering the cause of these deaths and ensuring justice for the affected families,” Omar Abdullah added.