JAMMU: While no new cases of the mystery illness — that has claimed 17 lives in Badhaal village in J&K’s Rajouri district since Dec 2024 — have been reported since Jan 24, the district administration is continuing with “intensive preventive care” for residents, with 87 Badhaal families comprising 364 members kept in isolation after being shifted to Rajouri, officials said Wednesday.
“These families are currently housed at Govt Nursing College, Govt Boys Higher Secondary School, and Govt Medical College and Associated Hospital in Rajouri under observation,” said an official, adding: “Arrangements under the supervision of Rajouri deputy commissioner Abhishek Sharma have been made to ensure the comfort and safety of these families.”
At these isolation centres, the families are being provided with meals, water, baby food, sanitary items, medicines, clothing and other daily necessities under close monitoring by doctors and officials of district administration. “For their comfort, the administration has provided 240 beds, 490 blankets and 303 mattresses while keeping 176 beds, 300 blankets and 240 mattresses reserved,” the official said.
An on-site medical team, comprising three doctors and six paramedics, is at each spot round-the-clock while critical care ambulances are stationed at all the venues for emergencies. “Meals are prepared in kitchens under CCTV surveillance, with food samples sent for testing at NFL Ghaziabad and Patoli Food Testing Lab, Jammu,” the official said, adding: “Anganwadi workers and Child Development Project Officers have been deployed to take care of children aged below six years. Temporary schooling arrangements are in place for school-going children.”
“Craft teachers and ITI instructors are providing training to individuals in tailoring and other trades. Sewing machines have been supplied by the social welfare department. Officials from agriculture, horticulture and labour departments are educating families about govt schemes such as PMEGP, Daksh Kissan, e-SHRAM, PMJJBY, and PMSBY,” the official said.
To ensure the safety of the remaining 808 households (3,700 individuals) in Badhaal, the village has been divided into 14 clusters monitored by multi-departmental teams of 182 officials. “As a precautionary measure, all shops and establishments have been sealed, and ration is being provided under strict supervision. Official teams are feeding 424 domestic animals and 168 poultry birds belonging to shifted families,” the official said, adding: “Meanwhile, the daily sampling of food and consumables is underway and 167 blood, urine and nasal swab samples have been collected for testing at GMC Rajouri.”
Officials said a control room under the supervision of additional district development commissioner has been established to coordinate efforts, address public queries, and provide updates to prevent panic.