Jammu: As the inter-ministerial team continued investigations into the mysterious deaths of 17 persons at Budhal village in Rajouri District, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah arrived in the hamlet on Tuesday and reiterated the government’s commitment to uncover the truth behind the tragedy.
An official said that the inter ministerial team, constituted by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, led by a director-level officer from the Ministry of Home Affairs on the second consecutive day spent hours collecting samples and interacting with villagers and surviving family members.
Initial investigations, according to the officials, ruled out a communicable bacterial or viral disease, focusing instead on neurotoxins found in the samples of victims. Authorities also sealed a local spring after discovering traces of pesticides or insecticides in its water.
