Aslam’s 6th child also dies in GMC, death toll 17; Govt still clueless

Central team reaches Rajouri, takes feedback

Bowli sealed as contents of ‘insecticides’ found

Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 19: While 11-member Central team on the directions of Union Home Minister, Amit Shah arrived in Rajouri town late this evening, the sixth and the last child of Mohd Aslam, hailing from `crisis-hit’ Badhaal village in district Rajouri also died in GMC Jammu this evening at around 6.15 pm.

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Medical Superintendent of SMGS hospital, an associated hospital of GMC Jammu, Dr Dara Singh told the Excelsior that Yasmeen (16), daughter of Mohd Aslam, who was on ventilator support for the last three days, passed away in the ICU of the hospital at 6.15 pm on Sunday. Dr Singh said her body was sent to the mortuary. He said the patient was shifted to GMC Jammu from Rajouri on January 12 and her condition was critical for the last three days.

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With this unfortunate casualty, the death toll due to ‘mysterious illness’ at Badhaal village of Koteranka Sub Division in Rajouri, has reached up to 17. Eight members of the family of Mohd Aslam including his six children (two sons and four daughters) besides parents– Mohd Yousuf and Jatti Begum, have died. The family members, relatives and the villagers of the area alleged that JKUT Administration failed to shift serious children to AIIMS Delhi despite repeated requests of the relatives and left the hapless patients to die in Jammu’s SMGS hospital.
Meanwhile, the Central team led by G K Garg, Director-JKL affairs (Ministry of Home Affairs), reached Rajouri late this evening. The team had detailed meeting with the senior officers of the District Administration Rajouri including Deputy Commissioner, Abhishek Sharma, Additional DC RK Thappa, SSP Rajouri Gaurav Shikarwar, Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Rakesh Magotra, Principal GMC Rajouri Dr A S Bhatia, HoDs of several Departments of GMC Rajouri, CMO Rajouri, Dr M L Rana, head of Food Safety Department Rajouri and several other officers, and sought feedback from them about the mysterious deaths at Badhaal village.
They also sought some information and progress made by the SIT headed by S P Operations. Rajouri. The team will visit Badhaal village on Monday morning and return in the afternoon.
Official sources revealed that the Administration has sealed a water spring (Bowli) at Badhaal village, after some contents of insecticides/ pesticides were found in the water samples. The Addl Deputy Commissioner Koteranka, Dil Mir issued order in this connection and deployed police at this water source near the house of the victim family. The water source has also been covered by barbed wires to restrict the entry of the villagers.
The SIT has been working hard to crack the case of mysterious deaths at Badhaal village. The team has been screening the mobile phones data of several suspects and also picking up suspects for questioning. However, no breakthrough could be made into the case. Various Medical/ Food Safety teams besides Forensic experts are assisting the SIT in the investigation.
It is pertinent to mention here that first incident in Badhaal village of Khawas area in Koteranka (Kandi) was reported on Dec 7, 2024, wherein, 38-years-old Fzal Hussain, son of Nazam Din and his four other family members/children died. They included- Rabina Kouser-15 yrs, Ruksar Ahmed-12 yrs, Farhana Kouser-10 yrs and Rafaqat Ahmed-4 yrs-all the children of Fazal. His wife Shamim Akhtar (35) was also hospitalized in GMC Rajouri but was later discharged.
The second spree of deaths started on December 12 wherein, three children of Mohd Rafiq and his wife Razia Begum (35) died. While his two children Nazia-7 yrs and Ishtiaq 9 yrs died on December 12, his third child– Mohd Ishfaq (10 yrs) was referred to PGI Chandigarh from SMGS on December 12 but passed away on December 18 there. Rafiq’s wife, Razia Begum, however, passed away on Dec 23. So, nine deaths took place in the month of December as per Medical record with Rajouri administration.
The third incident was reported on January 12, 2025. While Mohd Aslam’s two children Zahoor-14 and Naveena-8 yrs passed away on the same day, his third child– Maroof (10 yrs) died on January 13 in SMGS Hospital, under GMC Jammu and fourth child Safina Kouser- 6 yrs on Jan 14, at GMC Jammu. The 14th victim is Mohd Yousuf (62), maternal uncle of Mohd Aslam, who passed away at GMC Rajouri on late Monday evening. The fifth child Zabina passed away on January 15 late evening while Yasmeena (15) died in the ICU of GMC Jammu this evening (Jan 19, 2025).
A senior Health official said that a joint team of experts from NCDC Delhi, Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai and National Institute of Virology, Pune; CSIR, AIIMS Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh also visited the site and took samples.
The experts from these teams after carrying out extensive microbiological studies indicated that no viral, bacterial or microbial infection was found to cause these deaths. These were found to be localised and possibly having some epidemiological linkage. They also added that certain neurotoxins were found in the samples of the deceased persons.