Worst seems to be over, only 7 new cases reported

Nagpur: The incidences of pesticide poisoning in the worst-hit Yavatmal and other cotton growing districts of Vidarbha seem to have slowed down with just a few new cases being reported on Friday. Only seven fresh poisoning cases were reported from Yavatmal on Friday, 5 at the GMC and 2 in rural hospitals. No fresh case was reported from other parts of the region.

With no casualties being reported from any part of the region on Friday, the pesticide poisoning toll remained unchanged at 35 since September. The district-wise figures are: 19 from Yavatmal (11 at GMC and 8 in rural hospitals), Akola 9, Nagpur 5 and Chandrapur 2.

The spraying activity itself seems to have either ended or been reduced. Farmers and farm labourers have become very cautious and after the spate of deaths, they are avoiding spraying even though the cotton plants are ridden with various kinds of pests.

Officials in the agriculture department told TOI that the spraying activity is almost over. Also with the agriculture department creating awareness at village level, there has been a fall in spraying.

Dr Manish Shirigiriwar, acting dean of Yavatmal GMCH, said that the number of admitted patients had come down to 26 and only three of them are on ventilator. “It is definitely a good sign. The fear psychosis is also decreasing among patients and their relatives. Yet, we are trying our best. There were just five new admissions today,” he said.

Besides the five new admissions in the GMCH, two patients have been admitted in rural hospitals. So far, 455 patients of pesticide poisoning have been treated in Yavatmal GMCH alone.

Dr Pramod Yadgirwar, senior entomologist, Vasantrao Naik Agri-Biotech College, Yavatmal, said farmers have become quite aware now after the deaths. They now agree that pesticides should be used only based on the need. “The complete season of spraying is not over as yet but farmers will now not misuse pesticides,” he said.

Kishor Tiwari, chairman of Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavblamban Mission (VNSSM), the task force on farm distress in the state, also expressed happiness over the decreasing number of patients. He said that farmers appear to be out of the panic situation. “The cotton bolls have burst and now pesticides would be used only after the first picking has been done. By then, farmers and farm hands will have learnt the use of protective gear and the right use of pesticides,” said Tiwari.

Dr C More, dean of Chandrapur GMCH, said that there was just one new admission on Thursday. The patient is doing well. In the season, the GMCH had 33 admissions in September. In October, there have been a few admissions all of which have been discharged. There were patients with eye problems but they have recovered. In rural Chandrapur, 24 patients were admitted and two deaths occurred in Korpana and Rajura areas.

By Friday, Akola GMCH had just one patient in the ICU and there are four patients under treatment. Nagpur GMCH also doesn’t have any more patients of spraying poisoning. “We have received a few patients of pesticide consumption but spraying patients are not coming now,” said DR Girish Bhuyar, public relations officer at GMCH.