Mysterious illness grips remote village in Indian-administered Kashmir

Muslim majority village, close to the Line of Control dividing Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani administered regions, has been gripped by anxiety and grief

Muslim Network TV

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (MNTV) – A baffling illness has claimed the lives of 17 people in the remote village of Badhal in Indian-administered Kashmir over the past month.

The disease has left authorities scrambling for answers and the community in a state of fear and uncertainty.

The disease, which first appeared last year on December 7  has struck swiftly and mercilessly, with victims exhibiting a range of symptoms including high fever, seizures, and rapid neurological deterioration.

Tragically, one family has been particularly devastated, losing eight members, including six children, to the mysterious disease.

“Who else could be so unfortunate than me, who lost all six children, an uncle, and an aunt who were like my parents and staying with me in the house?” said Mohammad Aslam, the sole survivor of his immediate family.

“I only pray to Almighty Allah to bring out the truth,” he told media outlets.

The Muslim majority village, nestled amidst the rugged terrain close to the Line of Control dividing Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani administered regions, has been gripped by anxiety and grief.

The illness initially presented as a cluster of sudden deaths on December 7, when five people died with alarming swiftness.

Since then, the death toll has steadily risen, with the latest victim, a young girl named Yasmeen, succumbing to the disease at SMGS Hospital in Jammu on January 19.

Adding to the mystery, the victims span different age groups and backgrounds, with no clear pattern emerging.

“We are seeing both young and old, men and women, succumbing to this illness,” stated Dr. Rajinder Kumar, a physician at the district hospital.

“This makes it even more challenging to pinpoint a specific cause.”

A high-level team of Indian health and security officials has arrived in the village to investigate the cause of the outbreak.

“We are leaving no stone unturned,” said a senior health official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“We are looking at all possibilities, including water contamination, environmental factors, vector-borne diseases, and even a possible criminal conspiracy.”

Experts from India’s top medical institutions, including the Indian Institute of Virology in Pune and PGI Chandigarh, are examining samples collected from the villagers and the environment.

Initial tests have revealed the presence of pesticides in the village’s water spring, “Bawli,” which has since been sealed. Authorities are working to ensure villagers do not consume the contaminated water and are providing alternative sources of drinking water, trucking in tankers from nearby villages.

“The presence of pesticides in the water is a serious concern,” said a member of the investigating team.

“We are trying to determine the source of the contamination and whether it is linked to the outbreak. However, the symptoms don’t entirely align with typical pesticide poisoning, so we are exploring other avenues as well.”

The mysterious illness has not only brought immense suffering to the affected families but has also raised concerns about the health and safety of the entire village. Residents are demanding answers and urging authorities to take swift action to contain the outbreak and prevent further deaths. Fear and suspicion have cast a pall over the community, with some villagers even speculating about supernatural causes.

“We are living in fear,” said Fatima Begum, a resident of Badhal.

“We don’t know what is causing this illness, and we are worried about our children and our families. We urge the government to help us and find a solution quickly.”

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are hopeful that they will soon be able to identify the cause of the outbreak and take steps to prevent further tragedies. In the meantime, the village of Badhal remains shrouded in anxiety and grief, a stark reminder of the fragility of life in the face of the unknown.