JAMMU: Rajouri administration Wednesday declared Badhaal village a containment zone and prohibited all gatherings in the area after five residents were hospitalised since the previous evening. Since Dec, 17 members of three families — including six minor siblings — in Badhaal have succumbed to a ‘mystery illness’ even as many others continue to take ill.
The five sick persons were initially admitted to CHC Kandi. From there, one critically ill patient, Ajaz Khan (25), was referred to PGI Chandigarh around 1.35am Wednesday and ferried there in an air ambulance provided by Union home ministry, while three minor sisters were first referred to GMC Rajouri from the CHC before being airlifted to Jammu in an Army chopper. The fifth patient was shifted to GMC Rajouri from CHC Kandi, GMC medical superintendent Dr Shamim Ahmed said.
An order issued by Rajouri district magistrate Abhishek Sharma under BNS Section 163 stated that the prohibition was imposed to ensure public safety and prevent the potential spread of infection. “Designated officials will oversee and monitor all meals provided to families within the containment zone,” said the order.
The order said the houses of families where deaths have occurred shall be sealed and entry will be barred for all individuals, including family members, unless authorised by designated authorities. “Individuals of these families and those in their close contact must be immediately shifted to GMC Rajouri for continuous health monitoring,” the order stated.
“Police personnel will be stationed to monitor consumption of replaced food items under observation. Designated officers will maintain a logbook of every instance of food distribution and consumption. Entries into the logbook would be made thrice daily and signed by the monitoring officer for accountability,” the order said.
Health department teams have so far screened around 3,500 locals, including residents of Budhal and adjoining villages but tests haven’t confirmed any viral or bacterial infection. An inter-ministerial team is camping in the village to probe the reasons behind the mass deaths.