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Experts Unable to Determine Cause of 17 Unexplained Deaths in Rajouri, J&K

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National-level laboratories and various health institutions have yet to determine the cause of the mysterious illness that has resulted in 17 fatalities, including 13 children, in Badhaal village, Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir.

The initial death was reported on December 7, and among the 55 affected individuals, 38 have since recovered and been discharged. Fortunately, no new cases have emerged in the past two weeks.

The village remains under lockdown, and authorities have quarantined 363 residents from 60 families. Additionally, officials from the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments are overseeing the care of 592 animals to ensure their protection.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo convened a meeting today with representatives from the Health and Police Departments, alongside officials from distinguished national institutions, to review the efforts underway to protect lives in the area and identify the underlying causes of these deaths. Key attendees included the Principal Secretary for Home Affairs, the Health Secretary, the Additional Director General of Police for Criminal Investigation, the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, and various local health experts.

The meeting also included esteemed figures such as the Directors of AIIMS, PGIMER in Chandigarh, ICMR, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow, CFSL, and experts from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and DRD Gwalior, among others, who are analyzing samples provided by the Health Department.

During the meeting, Dulloo stressed the importance of not relaxing safety measures and recommended testing samples of local fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides to trace the root cause of these fatalities. He also urged for the enhancement of local hospital facilities, ensuring they are equipped to manage similar situations in the future.

He ordered an evaluation of healthcare resources to identify the need for additional ICU beds, oxygen plants, isolation wards, and necessary medications, as well as specialist staffing. Furthermore, he reached out to AIIMS, New Delhi, asking for assistance in training local medical personnel to better handle such crises. He suggested sending doctors for specialized training and inviting experts to bolster local medical capacities.

Doloo also consulted health specialists from various national institutions for their recommendations on the next steps, while instructing law enforcement agencies to expedite their investigations based on the test results received and pending.

Secretary of Health, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, confirmed that there are currently no hospital admissions, as patients had been assessed by medical teams from PGIMER and AIIMS. The Divisional Commissioner of Jammu assured that measures are in place to prevent the exchange of food between families who have been relocated and are under constant observation.

Amidst the ongoing crisis, a total of 529 samples of insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers have been collected across Rajouri District as part of the investigation.

A total of 257 shops were designated for sampling, including 60 selling insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides, and a further 194 selling fertilizers. Out of these, 254 shops underwent thorough sample collection, resulting in 529 total samples—293 of insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides, and 236 of fertilizers. These samples will be sent for testing, with the results expected to be significant in the investigation concerning Badhaal village.

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MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

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New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.

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8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

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Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

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75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

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Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

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