Investigation in Badhal deaths underway: Sakina Itoo

Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo, today informed the House that the cause of illness and deaths in Badhal area of Rajouri is not due to any communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by Javeed Iqbal Choudhary in the Legislative Assembly.

She said that the clinical reports, lab investigations and environmental samples indicate that the incidents are not due to a communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin, instead, detection by the PGMIER Chandigarh had revealed presence of Aluminium and Cadmium. Besides, CSIR-IITR Lucknow had found Aldicarb sulphate and Acetamipride Diethyl Dithiocarbamate, Chlorphenapyr while DRDE-DRDO Gwalior found Chlorphenapyr, Abrin from  samples of Sattu and Maize bread. He added that the NFL, FSSAI Ghaziabad, had found Chlorphenapyr and Chlorpyrophos from the food samples while CFSL, Chandigarh had found Chlorphenapyr in viscera samples of all the 17 deceased.

The Minister informed the house that the total number of patients admitted in GMC Rajouri was 64, out of these, 41 have been discharged after treatment and 17 patients have been referred to GMC Jammu and 01 patient to PGI Chandigarh. She said that 06 patients had died in GMC Rajouri while 11 patients died in GMC and SMGS Hospitals, Jammu.

The Minister said that a standard treatment policy and discharge procedure is being adopted for the patients of Badhal area, prepared by the expert team of AIIMS New Delhi/PGI Chandigarh. She added that all the SOPs laid down by these teams are being adopted during stay of the patients in the hospital and simultaneously at the time of discharge and follow-up.
The Minister said that with regard to the patients in Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, proper SOPs and protocols are being followed for all the three patients admitted in GMCH Jammu after being referred from GMCH Rajouri. She added that 2 patients are being kept in the Isolation ward while 1 patient after being shifted from PGI Chandigarh is being kept in a separate room in the Sir Colonel Chopra Nursing Home.

The Minister said that the deceased family members of village Badhal of Rajouri district have been paid an amount of Rs. 1 lakh and 50,000 Red Cross Fund by the Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri.

While replying to the supplementary, the Minister informed the house that the samples of 3500 people have been taken for examination and investigation is underway.

M Y Tarigami and Choudhary Mohammad Akram raised supplementaries to the question.(GNS)