Teenager dies, Rajouri illness toll mounts to 16

Central government's inter-ministerial team reaches J&K; administration seals spring in Badhaal

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

JAMMU: Battling for life since January 12, a 15-year-old girl of Badhaal village in Rajouri district died due to mysterious illness at the SMGS Hospital here on Sunday evening, taking the toll to 16 since December 7 last year. Deceased Yasmeen Akhter Kouser is the sixth child of Mohammad Aslam of Badhaal village to have lost her life. With this, Aslam has lost all of his children to the mysterious illness. Since December, all of his kids — Mohammad Maroof, 8, Nabeena Akhter, 5, Zahoor Ahmed 14, Safeena Kouser, 12, Zabeena Kouser, 10, along with Kouser — have lost their lives.

"Despite best possible efforts by the doctors, Yasmeen Akhter Kouser died around 6.10 pm on Sunday," said a senior health official.