Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today held a meeting of the Divisional and District administrations along with Health experts and Police Department to take assessment of the measures taken so far to identify the real causes behind the mysterious deaths reported from village Badhal in district Rajouri here.
The meeting besides Secretary Health & Medical Education Department was attended by ADGP, Jammu; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range; DC, Rajouri; SP, Rajouri; Principal, GMC, Jammu; Principal, GMC, Rajouri; Director, Health Services, Jammu besides some experts from the national health institutions.
During this meeting the Chief Secretary impressed upon the concerned from Health and Police Departments to take stringent containment measures in consultation with the Divisional administration to ensure that there is no further loss of any life.
He advised the concerned to frame a proper SOP for monitoring the population of the village. He asked them to deploy sufficient manpower from both the Health department and Police to enforce the Do’s and Don’ts set in the SOP.
Dulloo further enjoined upon the divisional and district administration to not let down their guard and allow only tested edibles and non-edibles to be used by the persons under quarantine. He stressed that till the actual causes of these deaths are not known both the Police and Health professionals should carry on their investigations as required as per the set procedures.
He also urged them to study the reports received from the national diagnostic institutions that had taken samples from the village. He directed them to take every possible measure to protect the lives of these villagers till the toxicology reports point out the actual causes of these deaths.
He also took note of the work done so far by the SIT constituted by the Police Department and other investigation agencies including the Ministerial team sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs. He enquired from the experts the possible preventive measures that could be taken to control the further damage.
The Secretary H&ME, Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah informed the meeting that every measure has been taken to isolate the families and provide them food and water after testing the same. It was given out that the health teams are stationed there to keep surveillance for any of the symptoms appearing in any person.
It has further been added that the local PHC/CHC has been kept in a state of readiness besides it is ensured that no food or eatables are exchanged as the families had been removed from their homes and kept under continuously monitored to safeguard their lives.