60-year-old dies, Rajouri illness toll mounts to 15

Policemen inspect pesticide and chemist shops in the area to investigate possibility of poisoning

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

JAMMU: A 60-year-old woman from the remote Badhaal village died due to a mysterious illness at Government Medical College and Hospital in Rajouri on Friday morning, taking the toll to 15 since December 7 last year.

Jatti Begum is the latest victim of the illness that has left 15 members of three inter-related families dead. She is the wife of 62-year-old Mohammad Yousuf, who had died on January 13. She was taken to the Rajouri hospital on Thursday evening after her health deteriorated. "Despite all efforts, she died around 7:30 am on Friday," said Dr Shamim Choudhary, the medical superintendent.