Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district have shut down all pesticide and insecticide shops after 17 people died under mysterious circumstances in Budhal village. Officials said the deaths happened over the past nine weeks due to an unknown illness. As part of the investigation and safety measures, surprise inspections were carried out at all pesticide, insecticide, and fertiliser stores in the district, leading to their closure.

Officials have confirmed that 11 patients from Budhal village, who were admitted to Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), have fully recovered and were discharged on Tuesday. In a late-night operation, officials carried out surprise inspections of all pesticide, insecticide, and fertiliser shops across the district. 

After the inspections, all such stores were ordered to remain closed until further notice. The operation was led by an executive magistrate, with joint teams from the agriculture department, food and drugs control organisation, and police.

Approximately 250 shops have been sealed as part of the crackdown. This action was taken after a team of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi completed a three-day visit to Rajouri. During their visit, they examined patients from Budhal village and collected samples to investigate the recent deaths in the area.

The five-member team from AIIMS, including toxicology experts, interviewed patients and documented their medical histories. Dr A.S. Bhatia, principal of GMCH, Rajouri, told IANS that all patients who came to the hospital with symptoms of the mysterious illness were treated with atropine and have survived.

Dr Bhatia explained that atropine is used to treat poisoning from organophosphorus compounds, and the 17 deaths were likely due to such poisoning. When asked why the doctors in J&K didn't detect this poison, he noted that organophosphorus poisoning usually causes the victims' pupils to dilate.

However, the patients admitted with symptoms like high fever, vomiting, excessive sweating, and unconsciousness had constricted pupils instead. Dr Bhatia added that the reason behind this unusual symptom is still under investigation.

Dr. Bhatia said, "The good news is that all 11 patients with the mysterious illness are now being treated with atropine, none have died, and they have all recovered and been released."