Another girl hospitalized; people protest, demand shifting of patients to PGI Chandigarh

People protest at Rajouri demanding shifting of Badhaal patients to PGI Chandigarh on Thursday.
People protest at Rajouri demanding shifting of Badhaal patients to PGI Chandigarh on Thursday.

300 Badhaal villagers shifted to quarantine centres
*GMC Jammu providing all possible support: Dr Ashutosh
Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Jan 23:   While another minor girl hailing from Badhaal village was shifted to GMC Rajouri today, the number of ailing persons has gone up to six including one undergoing treatment in PGI Chandigarh  and three in GMC Jammu, while about 300 individuals, who came in contact with the affected families of the 17 people,  who died due to the mysterious illness in Budhaal area of Kotranka Sub Division, have been quarantined in Rajouri as a precautionary measure.

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The people today held protest at Gujjar Mandi,  Rajouri  demanding shifting of the ailing girls from GMC Jammu and GMC Rajouri to PGIMER Chandigarh. They alleged that many children lost their lives due to poor response and ‘management’ in GMC Jammu. The protesters were carrying banners in their hands projecting that the Badhaal issue should not be politicized.   They also suggested that Badhaal people be kept in the containment  zones at the village.
Official sources told the ‘Excelsior’ that today Saima Akhtar-11 yrs, daughter of Mohd Aslam-II, resident of Badhaal was shifted to GMC Rajouri with fever and some similar ailments of the deceased. Her condition was said to be stable late this evening. The condition of another girl who was shifted to GMC Rajouri last evening was said to be stable.

DC & Additional DC visiting quarantine centre at Nursing College in Rajouri on Thursday. -Excelsior/Imran
DC & Additional DC visiting quarantine centre at Nursing College in Rajouri on Thursday.
-Excelsior/Imran

Principal GMC Jammu Dr Ashutosh Gupta said that out of the three girls admitted to GMC Jammu, the condition of younger one – Nazia Kouser (16), daughter of Bagh Hussain was serious. She was on ventilator support. He claimed that all the patients shifted from Badhaal village in Rajouri are being provided best possible medical support. Dr Gupta further said the condition of Ajaz Ahmed, shifted to PGI Chandigarh from Jammu is said to have improved.
Top Health officials have identified a common factor among all those who lost their lives in Badhaal village as involvement of the brain and damage to the nervous system.
MLA Budhal Javaid Iqbal Choudhary demanded the imposition of a medical emergency to save people and contain the spread of such a mysterious illness.
A senior official said that in order to provide instant and better preventive care, the close contacts of affected families of village Badhaal have been shifted to Nursing College in Rajouri  and two other locations on the direction of Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Abhishek Sharma.
He said about 300 individuals who came into contact with the affected families have been relocated to  quarantine centres set up in the building of a Nursing College, a Medical hostel and GMC Hospital in Rajouri.
A new quarantine centre was set up in Nursing College on Wednesday. As a precautionary measure, these relocated individuals include close relatives, neighbours  of the deceased. Several individuals who had contact with the affected families, from those who took children to the hospital to those who participated in burials, have also been identified.
Strict security measures have been implemented at the quarantine centres located in the nursing college building in Rajouri, designated specifically for quarantine purposes. The facility has been secured with fencing and rigorous monitoring, he said.
Before admission to the centres, all individuals are being screened. Arrangements have been made to accommodate those affected  and their food etc at the Nursing College at Gujjar Mandi and two other places.
Badhaal village in Rajouri district has been declared a containment zone as of Wednesday, with prohibitory orders in place for all public and private gatherings following the recent deaths, officials said.
Magistrate orders have sealed the homes of families where the deaths occurred as part of the primary containment zone. Entry into these homes, even by family members, is strictly prohibited without permission from officials on duty.
A total of 17 people, including 13 children from the families of Mohammad Fazal, Mohammad Aslam, and Mohammad Rafiq in Badhaal village, have died due to a mysterious illness over the past month and a half.
A central team continues its investigation into the cause of the deaths in three families, with over 230 samples sent for testing to various institutes.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), established by the police after neurotoxins were found in samples from the deceased, continues its probe into potential criminal aspects.  Officials indicated that more than three dozen suspects  have been questioned in connection with the case.
The decision was taken to ensure better preventative care and close monitoring of their health, as tests revealed the presence of certain toxins, not bacterial or viral infection.
Meanwhile,  in order to review the arrangements at the Nursing College, the Dy Commissioner Rajouri today chaired a meeting and inspected the accommodation  and other facilities. He also interacted with the relocated individuals, inquiring about their well-being. Addressing their concerns, the DC assured that their domestic animals will be taken care of at Badhaal by the Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Departments.
The  key measures taken by the district administration included the installation of CCTV cameras to monitor meal preparation and distribution, with all activities videographed for transparency and deployment of female officers for the welfare of women.
In addition, directions were issued to the Chief Education Officer to facilitate regular classes for the children.
DC also visited the GMC hospital this morning to inquire about the condition of the patients.  Additional District Development Commissioner Dr Raj Kumar Thapa is closely monitoring the centers to ensure seamless coordination among all departments. The district administration is diligently implementing the directions issued by the Chief Secretary and Divisional Commissioner Jammu.
During the day today, a protest was organized by the youths of Rajouri at Gujjar Mandi, led by Asif Bhat, to demand immediate attention to the ongoing crisis in Badhaal. The protesters called upon all stakeholders to refrain from politicizing the issue and focus on saving lives, as 17 people have reportedly died so far due to the health crisis.
The protesters expressed outrage over the lack of essential medical facilities, stating that even after repeated pleas, an air ambulance was not provided to shift three critically ill children to PGI Chandigarh for advanced treatment. They highlighted that despite efforts made by the MLA of Budhal, no concrete support was received from higher authorities to arrange the air ambulance.
The protesters accused the Central Government of neglecting the Pir Panjal region and its people, emphasizing that the area has been repeatedly overlooked in terms of healthcare infrastructure and emergency support. They demanded airlifting of the patients to  PGI Chandigarh.
Meanwhile, Principal GMC Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta claimed that GMC Jammu was intimated regarding airlifting of three children having signs and symptoms of mysterious illness from GMC Rajouri to GMC Jammu at about 6.30 PM. Further they were informed regarding the bed availability at PGIMER Chandigarh. He said the
GMC Jammu authorities immediately readied fully equipped critical care ambulances and dispatched the same to Technical airport, Jammu for immediately shifting these patients to PGIMER Chandigarh by road.
As per best practice, and in order to confirm the bed availability, GMC Jammu administration contacted with the administration of PGIMER Chandigarh. Specific calls were made to Director PGIMER & HoD Medicine PGIMER with a request for entertaining the said patients.
However, despite repeated requests, and in the best interest of sick patients, the PGIMER administration conveyed their inability to accept the children citing non-availability of beds.
Considering the critical situation, the children were immediately shifted to the SMGS Hospital, Jammu where all the senior consultants of Pediatrics including HoD Pediatrics, he himself received the patients and immediately shifted them to the isolation ward and started the appropriate treatment.
The condition of one of the children immediately got deteriorated within minute’s patient and she was immediately put on ventilator by the senior consultants and necessary interventions were started.
The attending doctors are in constant touch with their counterparts at PGIMER Chandigarh and are mutually sharing medical updates on patients admitted at PGIMER and GMC Jammu.  He clarified that  the Badhaal patients were provided best possible medical assistance at GMC Jammu.