Officials in India have begun investigation of the “mysterious” deaths of 17 people, mostly of them children in the same village in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
The chief of a local hospital DR. as Bhatia, said that the first five patients – including four children – who were admitted had symptoms similar to food poisoning, including vomiting and diarrhea while others complained of sore throats and breathing problems adding that all of them would then abruptly lose consciousness.
According to Bhatia the federal government has ordered an investigation, a special team set up by the local administration, comprising police officers, pathologists and other specialists and has questioned dozens of people so far.
However, the village has been declared a containment zone, but officials have said that the disease does not appear to be infectious, and there is no fear of an epidemic.
The deaths, including those of 12 children, have occurred in the remote village of Badhal in Jammu’s Rajouri district since December 7.
