A rising wave of fear is spreading in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
A mysterious illness has taken 14 lives since early December, leaving the authorities scrambling for answers, reports Tag24.
The disease has caused widespread concern in the village of Badhal, where all the victims belonged to the same family.
The symptoms are alarming. Patients develop fever, vomiting, and eventually lose consciousness before succumbing to the illness.
The latest victims were six-year-old Safina and her 62-year-old uncle, Mohammad.
Three more people, all young, are currently hospitalized in critical condition.
At first, doctors suspected food poisoning as the cause. Later, they shifted their focus to a possible viral infection.
However, local officials are not convinced. One unnamed senior official told the Hindustan Times that if food poisoning or an infection were responsible, the entire village would likely be affected.
For now, the disease does not seem to be contagious, according to the official, and has not been labeled a public health crisis.
Government epidemiologists have arrived in Badhal to investigate. They have already conducted over 12,000 tests on residents, the deceased, and their belongings.
Early findings suggest that neurotoxins may be responsible. These are small particles that can severely damage the brain and nervous system.
Samples from the victims have been sent to leading laboratories across India for further analysis.
More extensive autopsies have also been ordered to uncover additional clues. Officials are now exploring whether a nerve poison could have caused the illness.
The situation remains tense. While authorities continue their investigation, the villagers of Badhal are left with questions and deep fears.
The sudden and tragic loss of so many lives has shaken the small community. Health teams are working to find answers quickly, but until they do, uncertainty looms over the area.
This troubling story underscores the importance of vigilance in identifying and containing new health threats.
For now, families in Badhal can only hope for clarity and an end to the mysterious illness that has upended their lives.
