RAJOURI, JANUARY 21: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the government’s top priority is to stop the cycle of deaths in Badhal village in the Rajouri district.
He said the administration has not yet been able to establish the reason behind 17 mysterious deaths in the village.
Omar said the Jammu and Kashmir government, along with central agencies, has intensified efforts to uncover the cause of multiple deaths in Budhal, Rajouri. The tragic incident, which has claimed the lives of 17 people, has sent shockwaves through the region.
“From the moment the first incident was reported, the health department has been actively involved. We have also included other departments and local organizations to ensure a coordinated response,” Abdullah said.
Omar confirmed that initial tests ruled out the presence of any bacterial or viral infection, dismissing fears of a disease outbreak.
“Our first responsibility was to ensure no illness was spreading. Thankfully, all tests so far have confirmed there is no evidence of bacteria or viruses,” he added.
The government has deployed multiple teams to investigate the incident. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by the police to probe the matter. A team from the central government is also on the ground, collecting samples and conducting analyses.
“These three efforts—from the civil administration, the police SIT, and the central government team—will work together to answer the questions surrounding this tragedy,” CM assured.
Highlighting the challenges of healthcare infrastructure in far-flung regions like Budhal, he stated that large hospitals cannot be built in every remote area. However, the government is committed to addressing gaps in primary and community health centers. “We will strengthen ground-level health infrastructure, including PHCs, CHCs, and sub-district hospitals, to ensure better healthcare access,” he said.
Omar also reflected on the government’s responsibility to handle such crises with care and transparency. “In the past, hasty decisions have led to criticism. This time, we are ensuring a thorough investigation and careful steps,” he remarked.
Earlier, Omar visited Badhaal village to meet the families of the 17 individuals who lost their lives, impacting three families.
Expressing profound grief, the Chief Minister extended his condolences and assured the bereaved families of full support and assistance from his government.
He was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Javed Rana and MLA Budhal, Javed Iqbal Choudhary, during the visit.
The Chief Minister stressed that the government’s priority is to ensure the prevention of such incidents in the future and an immediate end to a spate of unfortunate deaths.
He assured the public that a detailed investigation was underway to determine the cause of the tragedy.
“The civil administration and health department are actively addressing the matter, while the police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident. Additionally, a central team has been deputed and is working diligently to uncover the reasons behind this unfortunate loss of life,” he stated. During the visit, MLA Budhal Javed Iqbal Choudhary submitted a proposal for compensation to the affected families.
The Chief Minister confirmed that the proposal is under active consideration and pledged timely action.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also directed Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, to extend all necessary support to the families during this difficult time.
He reassured the public that the findings of the investigation will be made transparent and that appropriate measures would be implemented based on the results.
Urging restraint in political interference, he added, “I appeal to everyone to allow the concerned agencies to perform their duties. Identifying the reasons behind these tragic deaths is our utmost priority, and we are committed to taking steps to prevent such occurrences in the future.”