The Jammu and Kashmir government today announced that the recent deaths in Rajouri are not linked to any communicable disease- bacterial or viral. Instead, toxins detected in the biological samples taken are believed to be the cause of the 14 unexplained deaths in the district.

“Clinical reports, lab investigations, and environmental samples indicate that the incidents are not due to a communicable disease,” a government spokesman said in a statement.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR) had taken biological samples to analyse the cause of deaths.

“The toxicological analysis conducted by CSIR-IITR has detected toxins in multiple biological specimens,” the statement added.

The government said it had been closely monitoring the situation in village Budhal, Rajouri, where an unexplained illness has claimed 14 lives. One child admitted in SMGS hospital is critical.

“Investigations, and samples empirically indicate that the incidents are not due to a communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin and that there is no public health angle,” the statement said.

“Pertinently all samples have tested negative for any viral or bacteriological etiology. The tests were conducted on different samples in some of the most reputed labs of the country. These include National Institute of Virology Pune, National Centre for disease control New Delhi, National Institute of Toxicology and Research Lucknow, Defence Research Development Establishment Gwalior, the Microbiology Department of PGIMER Chandigarh besides the ICMR-Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, GMC Jammu,” the statement reads.

On December 7, 2024, a family of seven got ill after a community meal, resulting in five deaths.  On December 12, 2024, a family of nine got affected, leading to death of three. The third incident occurred on January 12, 2025, involving a family of ten who fell ill after consuming another community meal, with six children requiring hospitalization.

The Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo, visited the spot along with other cabinet colleagues after the December 7 incident. She later chaired several meetings with the Health and Medical Education Department, District Administration, and other related departments to find the cause of the illness and provide necessary healthcare facilities to the affected.

The statement said it took several steps immediately after the first incident on December 7, including deputing a medical team along with the food safety department to collect food and water samples, organizing medical camps, establishing mobile medical units, door-to-door screening, and deploying rapid action teams.

“A team of the state rapid response experts, including epidemiologists, microbiologists, and others from DHS Jammu, GMC Jammu, and Rajouri, visited the area to conduct detailed screening and collect contact tracing samples. Experts from NCDC, NIV Pune, and PGI Chandigarh also visited the area to assist in containing the situation.”

The government said the police have formed a SIT to investigate the deaths. “Efforts are on by the J&K police to investigate the incident. The Government is committed to safeguarding the lives of people and is taking all necessary steps in the matter,” the government statement said.

Also read: Mysterious disease claims 14 lives in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, minister reports inconclusive tests - First Check