SRINAGAR: Officials said on Monday that organophosphorus poisoning is likely behind the 17 “mystery” deaths in Badhaal village, Rajouri.
According to a doctor quoted by KNO, an antidote—atropine injection—was administered to patients at the hospital, and it proved effective.
Atropine injection is used to treat poisoning caused by organophosphorus nerve agents, including organophosphorus or carbamate insecticides.
The doctor said the official report from top laboratories is yet to come. “We have used the hit-and-trial method, and it worked well. We administered atropine to two patients for other purposes to increase the heart rate; they survived and are recovering well,” he said.
He added that as atropine has shown positive results, it is likely that organophosphorus or related salts could be the reason behind the wave of deaths in Rajouri village.
However, the doctor said that official reports are yet to come, and concluding that organophosphorus is behind these deaths would be premature at this stage.
At least 17 people, including 14 children, have died, while several others have been admitted to the hospital due to a “mysterious” illness in Badhaal village over the past two months.
