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Authorities successful Jammu and Kashmir enforce strict surveillance successful Baddal colony arsenic graves are dug amid unexplained deaths. (Source: Express Photo)
Nearly 200 radical from Baddal colony moved to Rajouri municipality for continuous monitoring, strict curbs connected the question of those who stay successful the village, and surveillance by recently installed CCTV cameras – these are among measures by the Jammu and Kashmir medication against the backdrop of 17 deaths and 4 hospitalisations of unexplained causes successful the village.
Since December, 17 radical from 3 families astatine Baddal village successful Rajouri person died, with authorities from J&K and the Centre scrambling to fig retired why. Just erstwhile officials expressed apprehensions that a baoli (water reservoir) with traces of pesticides could beryllium linked to the deaths, 3 much minors from 1 of the families were admitted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital successful Rajouri with fever and vomiting.
Union curate Jitendra Singh has said that preliminary results from a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) toxicology laboratory successful Lucknow indicated the beingness of a toxin successful the bodies of the deceased. “Now the toxin is being tested,” helium said, promising that the “mystery” would beryllium cleared soon.
Authorities person meantime moved astir 200 radical – the surviving members of the 3 families and their contacts – to the Nursing College successful Rajouri. They are being monitored 24×7 by a dedicated squad of doctors and aesculapian staff.
Police unit person besides been deployed astatine the nursing assemblage and astatine the infirmary to guarantee that nary unauthorised persons travel successful oregon spell retired of the isolation wards successful the nursing assemblage and GMC, officials said.
At Baddal village, which has astir 1,800 people, astir fractional of the colonisation present falls nether containment zones. A elder authoritative told The Indian Express that the question of residents has been restricted. They person been asked to enactment location and navigator utilizing lone the provisions provided to them by the medication 3 times a day. Bottled h2o is besides being provided to them for their regular consumption, the authoritative said.
CCTV cameras are being installed astatine cardinal points successful the colony to show movements and guarantee compliance with each authorities instructions, the authoritative said. Police unit person been deployed astatine the colony to guarantee nary 1 moves retired of the containment zones.
The containment zones were established aft the latest bid of hospitalisations connected Tuesday and Wednesday.
Multiple authorities agencies are investigating the deaths, and an inter-ministerial team, acceptable up by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, visited Baddal precocious to look into the matter.
When The Indian Express visited the colony earlier this week, residents had recalled that the deaths started aft 1 of the families hosted a wedding ceremonial astatine the opening of December.
The J&K Police has besides acceptable up a peculiar probe squad to probe the matter, portion the territory medication has sealed the baoli.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Badhaal colony to connection condolences to the grieving families of 17 victims. (Source: X/@diprjk)
Dr Shuja Qadri, a elder epidemiologist and caput of the Community Medicines Department astatine GMC, Rajouri, said that respective tests person ruled retired viruses oregon bacteria arsenic the origin of the deaths.
More than 200 nutrient and h2o samples person been sent for screening to assorted institutes crossed the country, helium said.
CM Omar Abdullah visits Baddal village
The J&K authorities has besides dismissed fears of a nationalist wellness situation and asked residents to stay calm. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the colony this week and assured residents of his government’s committedness to uncovering the information down the deaths.
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