At least 15 people have died in Western India due to an unidentified mysterious illness, according to the Hindustan Times on Wednesday. The newspaper reported that the deaths occurred in Lakhpat, a city in the Kutch district of Gujarat state. Authorities have observed a rise in the number of casualties over the past eight days, while the cause of the illness remains unknown.

The newspaper noted that between September 3rd and 10th, ten people, including children, died from this unknown disease, with five additional deaths confirmed afterward.

Amit Arora, spokesperson for the Kutch government, explained that tests have so far ruled out several known diseases, including swine flu, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, malaria, and dengue fever. He added that 11 samples from the victims have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, Maharashtra, with results expected soon.

This outbreak coincides with heavy rainfall and flooding in the affected area, where Kutch recorded 890 mm of rain, representing a 184% increase over the normal average.