Rajouri, May 16, 2026 : One person died while seven others, most of them children, were hospitalised after allegedly consuming a wild vegetable in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, officials said on Saturday.
The incident occurred in Mohra village of the Kotranka subdivision, where members of two families reportedly consumed a wild vegetable on Friday evening and soon began showing symptoms of suspected food poisoning.
According to officials, the affected persons were initially taken to the Community Health Centre at Kandi before being referred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Rajouri for specialised treatment.
An elderly man, identified as Mohammad Hussain (60), died during treatment at the hospital, officials confirmed.
The remaining seven affected persons are currently undergoing treatment and are being monitored by doctors.
A doctor associated with the treatment said that prima facie the case appears to be one of food poisoning, although the exact cause is still under investigation.
Authorities have initiated a detailed inquiry to ascertain whether the poisoning was caused by toxic wild vegetation or any other contaminant.
Health officials have advised people in remote and hilly areas to avoid consuming unidentified wild plants or vegetables without proper knowledge, especially during seasonal growth periods.
