Shock, fear continue in Rajouri’s Budhaal village after 16 mysterious deaths

Srinagar: Residents of Budhaal village in Rajouri district remain gripped by shock and fear after a series of mysterious deaths claimed 16 lives—12 children and 4 adults—over the last 45 days.
Locals expressed deep distress as the cause of these deaths remains unknown. This has intensified anxiety among them.
Basheer Ahmad, a local chowkidar, said the residents are struggling to overcome the fear surrounding these incidents. “Initially, people thought it might be influenza or a virus and restricted their movement. However, even after test results ruled out such possibilities, the uncertainty about the cause of these deaths continues to haunt the village,” he said.
The deaths include members from three interrelated families, with the latest fatality occurring in January.
While Yasmeena Jan, the sole surviving daughter of Mohammad Aslam—who lost five children and two relatives—remains in critical condition, no other villagers have reported illness, further compounding the mystery.
Residents have urged the government to expedite investigations and determine the cause of these deaths to prevent further tragedies.
Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi, Member of Parliament for the Rajouri-Anantnag constituency, visited the affected area on Saturday and met with locals. He assured them of all possible support. The MP urged district authorities to fast-track the investigation to bring clarity and relief to the community.
The deaths began on December 5, 2024, when five members of a family died after consuming a community meal. Further fatalities occurred on December 12, 2024, and January 12, 2025, under similar circumstances.
Health Minister Sakeena Masood said that extensive analyses by leading institutions, including the National Institute of Virology (Pune) and the National Centre for Disease Control (Delhi), ruled out any communicable bacterial or viral diseases.
Toxicological tests conducted by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research detected the presence of toxins in multiple biological specimens, raising concerns about potential poisoning.
An 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by Jammu and Kashmir Police, led by Superintendent of Police Wajahat Hussain. The team includes forensic experts and specialists in toxicology, microbiology, paediatrics, and pathology. It is also collaborating with departments like Food Safety, Agriculture, Jal Shakti, and the Forensic Science Laboratory in Jammu.
Despite these efforts, the lack of a conclusive explanation has left the villagers distressed and fearful. “We just want answers and effective measures to ensure no one else faces the same fate,” said a concerned resident.
The government has assured the people that all necessary resources are being deployed to resolve the mystery and provide justice to the affected families