All 11 patients from Badhaal village in Rajouri, including three in intensive care, have been discharged from the Government Medical College (GMC) Associated Hospital in Rajouri after their recovery. The village attracted national attention following the death of 17 villagers, including some children, who fell ill due to unknown reasons.
Analysis of samples taken from the patients has indicated the presence of some toxins. Laboratory reports regarding the exact cause are still pending.
The deaths prompted the home ministry to dispatch an inter-ministerial team of experts to Rajouri. This team collected samples from the affected village and the surrounding areas.
The situation raised alarm within the government, leading the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister to assess the circumstances personally. Some patients were also sent to PGI Chandigarh for specialised treatment.
Budhal MLA Javid Chaudhary attributed the deaths to the existence of dual power centres in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that bureaucrats were unresponsive because the chief minister did not have full authority.
The discharged patients, including those who were previously in the ICU, were kept in a separate facility at the district headquarters for further observation. Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, visited the hospital to review the situation, and a team of doctors, led by Principal A.S. Bhatia, briefed him on the patients' progress and the measures taken during their treatment.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified their investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by a senior officer, is questioning over 60 individuals as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The administration has also set up a control room to coordinate relief efforts and provide updates on the situation. The stabilisation of the situation in Budhal is a significant relief to the villagers, who had been relocated to safer areas to prevent the spread of the illness. Authorities arranged accommodation and dispatched a veterinary team to care for their livestock.