Rajouri, Jan 19: An unexplained disease Sunday claimed another life, thus taking the number of mysterious deaths haunting Badhaal village of Rajouri district to 17.
The latest victim is 16-year-old Yasmeen Kouser, daughter of Muhammad Aslam – a distraught father who lost his six children in a week.
Yasmeen had been battling for her life in SMGS Hospital, Jammu for the last seven days. She had been on ventilator support since Wednesday.
Yasmeen’s death is particularly heart-wrenching, as she is the eighth member of her family to succumb to this mysterious disease, believed to be caused by neurotoxins.
Her five siblings, Zahoor Ahmed (14), Nabeena Kouser (8), Maroof Ahmed (10), Safina Kouser (11), and Zabina Kouser (7) died earlier during this week.
On January 12, 2025, they were admitted to GMC Associated Hospital Rajouri from where they were referred to SMGS Hospital, Jammu.
Their father’s uncle Muhammad Yousuf (62) and aunt Jatti Begum (60), who lived with the family too, died in Rajouri Hospital during this week.
Yasmeen and her siblings fell ill on Sunday and were hospitalised thereafter and later shifted to SMGS Hospital Jammu where they died one by one.
Yousuf and his wife fell ill on January 14 and 16 respectively and both died in GMC Rajouri.
Member Legislative Assembly Budhal, Javed Iqbal Choudhary said that Badhaal tragedy was deepening with each day. “On the one hand, the reason behind these deaths is unclear and on the other hand, lives are getting lost,” he said.
Pertinent to mention here that these sudden and unexplained deaths have sent shockwaves across the community, leaving villagers in a state of fear and uncertainty.
The authorities are striving hard to determine the cause of the deaths amid ongoing investigation by the Special Investigation Team.
