Deaths due to mysterious illness in Rajouri possibly caused by organophosphorus poisoning, say officials

Srinagar: The deaths of 17 individuals from three families in the remote Badhaal village in border Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir are suspected to be caused by organophosphorus poisoning, officials confirmed on Monday.

The mysterious illness, which claimed the lives of villagers between December 7, 2024, and January 19, 2025, has puzzled local and national health authorities, including the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

While the exact cause remains unclear, a senior doctor involved in the ongoing investigation shared that atropine injections, an antidote for organophosphorus poisoning, have shown positive results when administered to hospitalised patients.

“Several patients have shown improvement after receiving atropine,” the doctor, who requested anonymity, stated. “However, it would be premature to conclusively attribute these deaths to organophosphorus poisoning. Over 200 potential toxins are currently being investigated to identify the true cause of this mysterious illness.”

Organophosphorus poisoning is likely the cause behind the deaths of 17 members of three families from the remote Badhaal village in Kotranka due to a mysterious illness from December 7 to January 19, officials said on Monday.

The series of deaths has left the village in fear and uncertainty, as local authorities, along with a national team of experts, scramble to uncover the cause. Preliminary investigations indicate that the illness is not related to any known virus, bacteria, fungus, or zoonotic infections, which further deepens the mystery.

The primary symptoms observed in the affected patients include gastrointestinal distress, followed by neurological symptoms such as restlessness, altered sensorium, agitation, and, in some cases, sudden collapse leading to death.

The tragic sequence of events began on December 5, 2024, when the first signs of illness appeared in Badhaal, a village located about 60 kilometers from Rajouri town. The incident has now become a national health concern, prompting assistance from health experts and a high-level inter-ministerial team to aid in the investigation.

To contain the spread of a mysterious illness among villagers, the authorities last week imposed restrictions, by declaring the entire area as a containment zone.