Ghaziabad: Eleven peafowl — six peacocks and five peahens — were found dead in agricultural fields in Pyachara village in Loni, prompting fears of pesticide or water contamination. Locals spotted the birds and alerted authorities on Monday. Officials said foam around the birds' beaks indicated possible ingestion of toxic substances.
Phosphate-based chemicals commonly used in farming are suspected to be the cause, and samples have been collected to assess contamination and any potential risk to human health. The carcasses have been sent for post-mortem examination, while viscera samples have been forwarded for forensic analysis to determine the exact cause of death.
The incident triggered alarm among residents of Ghaziabad and surrounding areas, raising fears beyond wildlife loss to possible public health risks for residents as well.
Villagers said peafowl frequently foraged and drank water from agricultural fields, but such deaths had never occurred before. "Birds also drink water from other fields and ponds nearby, but this never happened earlier. Something must have been very strong this time," said a local farmer.
Forest officials said they have ruled out foul play.
"There were no visible injuries on the birds, nor any indications of poaching. During our inquiry, we learned that phosphate mixed with water was sprayed in a nearby field on Sunday. It is suspected that the peacocks ingested the chemical, leading to their deteriorating condition," said Isha Tiwari, divisional forest officer (DFO), Ghaziabad.
Health authorities said the case highlighted a larger concern over pesticide misuse in agricultural belts.
District plant protection officer Vikas Kumar said toxicity levels were indicated by colour-coded packaging; red labels denoted highly hazardous pesticides, followed by yellow and blue.
"Each chemical has a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), the highest legally permitted amount of pesticide residue in food, measured in mg/kg or parts per million," he told TOI. "When pesticide residues exceed MRLs, long-term exposure can lead to bioaccumulation—the gradual build-up of chemicals in body tissues—and biomagnification, where concentration increases as these toxins move up the food chain. These chemicals may deposit in fatty tissues and blood, potentially disrupting hormones, damaging cells, and increasing the risk of cancers."
Studies have also linked chronic pesticide exposure to reduced eyesight, cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, and neurological disorders.
"Continuous exposure to pesticide residues over permissible levels is linked to rising cancer cases in agricultural regions. In many villages, while multiple factors contribute to cancer, pesticide exposure is considered a significant risk factor. Apart from cancer, long-term exposure can affect eyesight and is associated with heart problems and high blood pressure," Kumar said.
The DPPO also said that MRLs are fixed crop-wise after scientific risk assessment. "Chemicals such as chlorpyrifos (0.05 mg/kg) and profenofos (0.05 mg/kg) have low permissible limits, meaning even small residues must be controlled. Dimethoate (0.02–0.2 mg/kg) and acephate (0.2–1.0 mg/kg) have wider ranges but can accumulate if pre-harvest intervals are not followed," Kumar said.
He added that some pesticides are categorised as highly hazardous. Dichlorvos (DDVP) and phorate have default limits of 0.01 mg/kg due to their toxicity, while monocrotophos is not permitted for use in vegetables in many regulations because of serious health and environmental risks.
Another senior official said, "The misuse of pesticides is not just a field-level issue; it is also linked to gaps in regulation and awareness. In several regions, unregulated or illegal manufacturing units continue to operate, leading to the circulation of substandard or highly toxic formulations in the market. At the same time, many farmers lack adequate training on correct dosage, dilution, and the mandatory waiting period before harvest. The penalty system for violations is also not stringent enough to act as a strong deterrent. Unless regulation, enforcement, and farmer education are strengthened together, the risk of overuse and misuse will continue to persist."
In Jan this year, the department of agriculture and farmers welfare drafted the Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, intended to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968. The proposed legislation sought to introduce greater transparency and traceability, mandatory accreditation of testing laboratories, digital monitoring, and enhanced penalties for spurious or hazardous pesticides. Officials said the bill aimed to strengthen administrative control while balancing farmer interests and public safety.
According to NCRB data for 2023, there were 7,743 reported deaths from accidental insecticide/pesticide ingestion so far.
"Organophosphorus poisoning is one of the most common forms of pesticide toxicity we are seeing, and the incidence appears to be rising. These chemicals are widely used as insecticides and rodenticides in crops such as wheat and other cereals. Exposure may be accidental or intentional, but patients often present with severe symptoms—confusion, excessive sweating, constricted pupils, vomiting, and acute respiratory distress. In serious cases, they are brought in comatose and struggling to breathe, requiring immediate intensive care support. Apart from organophosphorus compounds, we also encounter poisoning from other pesticide groups such as organochlorines and certain herbicides, which can also have serious systemic effects," said Dr Subhasish Mazumder, senior director, gastroenterology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali.
"Pesticides, especially organophosphates, can harm the human body because they affect the nervous system and make it overactive. People exposed may show signs like very small pupils, excessive sweating, saliva, breathing problems and muscle shaking. Long-term exposure can lead to memory issues, anxiety and nerve damage. Other chemicals such as carbamates, pyrethroids, organochlorines and paraquat also carry health risks, including lung and hormone problems. In India, aluminum phosphide (Cellphos) is very dangerous as it releases toxic gas and has no specific antidote," said Dr Ajay Agarwal, chairman, Internal Medicine, Fortis Noida.
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