India investigates 17 'mysterious' deaths in same village

Officials are investigating the "mysterious" deaths of 17 people - most of them children - in the same village in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

The deaths, including those of 12 children, have occurred in the remote village of Badhal in Jammu's Rajouri district since 7 December.

The victims initially displayed symptoms similar to food poisoning but suddenly lost consciousness, health officials said.

The village has been declared a containment zone, but officials have said that the disease does not appear to be infectious, and there is no fear of an epidemic.