Union minister Jitendra Singh, who was in Kathua to inaugurate a bridge, confirmed this on Thursday, while adding that investigation is on to identify the type of toxin. “Initial investigations have found that the deaths have not been caused due to infection, viral or bacterial. They have been caused by toxins. Tests are on to identify the type of toxin,” Singh said. He added that suitable action will be taken if it is found that the toxicity was caused due to some mischief or malaise.
Dr Sudhir Gupta, professor and head of forensic medicine and toxicology at AIIMS said that toxins can be both natural and chemical. “Detailed testing will be required to identify what type of toxin caused the deaths. It could be some insecticide, pesticide or even gases,” he said.
As many as 17 people, all of them belonging to three families residing in Badhal village in Rajouri district, have died since Dec 7. At least five others, including two children, are in critical condition after suffering from symptoms suggestive of neuro-toxicity or damage to the brain and the nervous system after exposure to certain toxins. “The symptoms aren’t suggestive of any infection. It looks like a case of poisoning, but we shouldn’t conclude anything until the investigation is completed,” one of the doctors at GMC, Jammu where three symptomatic individuals including two children are admitted, said.
