Srinagar, Aug. 21 -- With the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah sanctioning and releasing a grant of Rs.30 lakh out of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund in favour of the Next of Kin (NoK) of the deceased victims of the Badhaal tragedy, the tragedy has once again come into focus. Given the history of Jammu and Kashmir, once such tragedies go out of focus, both the governments and the society tends to forget the same and this intentional forgetfulness has left several tragedies here as mysteries as no answers were provided, Badhaal being one among these.

Seventeen people, including 13 children, died between December 7, 2024 and January 19, 2025 in the village. At that time, the deaths sparked widespread concern among lawmakers and locals alike....