Indian authorities are investigating the cause of the “mysterious” death

Officials are investigating the “mysterious deaths” of more than a dozen people – most of them children – in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

At least 17 people, including 12 children, have been killed in Badhal village in Jammu’s Rajouri district since December 7.

The victims initially showed symptoms similar to food poisoning, but they suddenly lost consciousness, health officials said.

The village was declared a containment zone, but officials said the disease was not contagious and there was no fear of an epidemic.

Doctor A. S. Bhatia, the head of a local hospital, said the first five patients, including four children, who were admitted had symptoms similar to food poisoning, including vomiting and diarrhoea. Others complained of sore throats and breathing problems.

But then they all suddenly faint, he added.

The federal government has ordered an investigation. A special investigative team was established by the local administration, which included police officers, pathologists and other specialists. in doubt dozens of people so far.

According to the initial investigation, the cause could be the consumption of contaminated food and water. Villagers have been asked not to drink water from a local spring after a test showed it contained traces of pesticides.

The deaths occurred between December 7 and January 19, and the victims were members of three related families. There were six children who died brothers and sistersbetween the ages of seven and 15. Their houses are sealed.

Although doctors have ruled out the possibility of infection, the administrative order says that people identified as close contacts of the three families are being transferred to a government hospital in Rajouri, where their condition will be monitored. The order also asks all other residents of Badhal to consume only food and water provided by the administration.

“All food materials in infected households must be confiscated by the authorities,” the order reads.

At least 10 people have been admitted to hospitals in the cities of Rajouri, Jammu and Chandigarh and are undergoing treatment.

Dr Shuja Quadri, an epidemiologist at the Government Medical College in Rajouri, said the disease is localized and that they have ruled out viral, bacterial, protozoan and zoonotic infections.

Among the second group of patients admitted on December 12, five people, including a one-year-old child, have recovered.

“It was a ray of hope for us,” Dr. Bhatia said.

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