Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Dec 12: Two more children of a family including a 7-year-old girl died, while another fell sick due to a suspected case of food poisoning in Budhal area of Rajouri district today.
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This was the second case of ‘suspected food poisoning’ in the past five days in the district. On Sunday, a villager and his three children had died under similar circumstances.
The officials said three siblings were brought to Kotranka (Kandi) hospital from Badaal village of Khawas in Budhal tehsil this morning, where the minor girl breathed her last, while her elder brothers, aged 10 and 11, were referred to Government Medical College (GMC), Hospital Rajouri for specialised treatment.
The doctors provided them preliminary treatment but referred one of them to GMC Jammu due to his serious condition but he died near Nowshera. His body was brought back to GMC Rajouri this afternoon. The condition of third child (boy) Ishfaq (11) was said to be stable.
The deceased children were identified as Nazia Kouser (7) and her brother— Ishtiaq Ahmed (10), both children of Mohd Rafiq, residents of Badaal in Budhal.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma visited the GMC Rajouri hospital to inquire welfare of the children. He assured all possible support and facilities to the family. Later, DC along with SP and Tehsildar concerned with some Medicos from Rajouri visited the village and talked to the locals of the area and prominent persons including DDC Member.
Chief Medical Officer Rajouri, Dr M L Rana said that this hamlet is about 2-3 kms away from the earlier one where four members of a family had died five days ago. He said the Medical team from Rajouri has reached the area. They have taken samples of water and food. He said three specialist doctors have also been deputed along with over two dozen of Medical team and he was himself supervising this all at the village. Another team from Jammu is arriving tomorrow to investigate the matter. It will be premature to say that these are food poisoning cases, he added.
The CMO said the children as per family members, had fever and headache. They also complained of throat pain. The team also visited local Medical shop from where medicines had been provided to them. The Drugs Department officials have also taken samples from there.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) Jammu is dispatching a team of Medical experts to investigate a series of unusual deaths reported in district Rajouri.
The team is scheduled to visit the site tomorrow, to conduct an epidemiological investigation.
The team comprises Dr Prem Lata, Medical Officer of Epidemiology at DHS Jammu, Dr Simran Nag, State Epidemiologist for the Jammu Division, and Ajay, State Microbiologist of the IDSP Jammu Division.
Additionally, Vishal Patil, a Senior Pharmacist from the DHS Jammu, will accompany the team.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, accompanied by senior officers, a team of doctors, and experts, visited the area this afternoon to express condolences to the bereaved families and assess the ground situation.
To identify the cause of the incident, rapid sampling procedures are ongoing, and food and water samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). The Deputy Commissioner has personally urged FSL authorities to expedite the results to facilitate prompt corrective measures.
A control mechanism has been put in place to monitor the situation, and helpline numbers have been disseminated among the public for immediate support. The administration has taken all necessary precautions to prevent further escalation of the situation, an official said.
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