Hyderabad: Notwithstanding the staggering number of deaths linked to the highly toxic herbicide paraquat and growing clamour for its ban, the health department has no consolidated data or a registry to track such fatalities across the state.Experts say absence of official records makes it difficult to assess the true scale of the problem.According to estimates by Indian Medical Association (IMA) Telangana and Doctors Against Paraquat Poison (DAAP), some 5,550 to 6,000 deaths occur annually in Telangana due to paraquat poisoning. The organisations estimate that nearly 1,000 such cases are reported every month across India.“We have filed several RTIs with the state health department, but there has been no response so far,” said Dr Mahesh Reddy, president of DAAP. He said the actual number could be significantly higher, as many patients are treated in private hospitals where such cases often go unrecorded.Doctors from the nephrology departments of Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Gandhi Hospital, and Osmania General Hospital said each facility handles around 200 to 250 paraquat poisoning cases annually, with admissions occurring almost every other day.The situation in the districts is similarly concerning. Dr Mahesh noted that across the 10 erstwhile districts of Telangana— Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak, Warangal, Khammam, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Nalgonda, and Mahabubnagar — each reports about 100 to 150 cases every month, with 40 to 50 deaths monthly.Dr Karthik Nagula, a forensic expert at Gandhi Hospital, said six to seven of every 10 poisoning deaths they examine are due to paraquat.Meanwhile, a senior health department official said no statewide data is maintained to determine the total death toll in Telangana, with each govt hospital keeping its own records.Rs200 a bottle, available onlineA 250ml bottle of paraquat dichloride, widely used for weed control, is available at fertiliser shops for 200. When TOI checked, the bottle was also available on e-commerce platforms at the same price.“With paraquat now being bought through e-commerce platforms and delivery apps, the crisis is spreading beyond the farming community to urban areas too,” said Dr Manjusha Yadla, head of Nephrology at Gandhi Hospital.What paraquat doesDoctors said, with no antidote available, paraquat causes irreversible damage to the kidneys, liver and lungs. The lethal dose is remarkably small at around 20ml-30 ml, with a mortality rate of 80-100%.“Many patients first go to smaller hospitals, which causes a delay. By the time they reach a tertiary centre such as Gandhi or OGH, the delay is usually a day and a half to over two days. By then, paraquat has been deposited in vital organs such as the lungs and kidneys, as well as in fat tissue. This affects cellular mechanisms and the toxin is released slowly, making treatment difficult,” Dr Yadla explained.“The major problem with this type of poisoning is that we do not have an antidote,” said Dr Gangadhar, head of department at NIMS.Ban now, switch to alternatives: ExpertsAlthough paraquat has been banned in around 70 countries, including EU nations, China and Brazil, regulatory action in India is still pending.“While paraquat is regulated at a central level in India for its registration, manufacture and approval, its use and distribution are handled by state govts,” said a health official.Recently, Telangana MLC Balmoor Venkat demanded a complete ban on paraquat. Earlier, the Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission, led by chairman M Kodanda Reddy, submitted a representation to chief minister Revanth Reddy following a meeting.“The commission sought the opinion of the state agriculture department and agricultural universities. However, they emphasised the need for more regulatory checks. But how is it possible when this chemical is so widely available and can even be purchased through e-commerce platforms?” asked Kodanda Reddy.In Feb, the Telangana high court sought responses from the state and central govts over their stance on banning paraquat, highlighting the excessive use of the chemical leading to loss of lives.Dr P Kishan, president of IMA in Telangana, said: “Weed control can be achieved through the use of brush cutters, power weeders, mulching, inter-cultivation and integrated weed management practices. These alternatives are practical, scalable and already in use.”
