In hospital beds, farm workers unsure what went wrong this time

Yavatmal: Vijay Watkar, a farmworker, gathers strength to jot down a few words in Marathi — 2 powder, 2 litre paani, 2 keetnashak (a couple of powder packets, two litres of water and two bottles of pesticides). Unable to speak due a tracheostomy, a surgery done on the windpipe to facilitate breathing, he tries to explain what went into the dangerous mix of pesticides.

But he doesn't know the names except that he writes sakhar (sugar) for the powder, probably a local jargon for the powdered chemical he used on the fateful day over a fortnight ago.

Under atropine, the medicine administered to treat pesticide poisoning, a patient's statements cannot be entirely perfect as the drug has an impact on the mind, said a doctor. But, Watkar seemed fairly normal.

In his 30s, Watkar is among the six patients admitted in the ICU of Yavatmal Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Five of them, including Watkar who have under gone tracheostomy, are still not out of danger.

Next to him is Haribhau Kundakar's bed. Both fell prey to the pesticide mix after spraying it in the same farm belonging to Anar Thakre at Bhari village, over 12km from Yavatmal town. In his 50s, Haribhau's condition seems worse as he barely makes any movement and doctors ask the kin to be vigilant.

When asked if the farmer who employed both of them provided any monetary help, a woman accompanying Haribhau says, "Yes, he gave us Rs500 each."

Of the 450 patients admitted to the GMC for toxic inhalation while spraying pesticides, 11 have died so far. Now, six are in the ICU. All of them are farm labourers working for Rs300-400 a day.

"For nearly a week, my husband complained about discomfort in the throat but continued to go to the fields for spraying pesticides. It got worse as he was unable to breathe properly and was rushed to the hospital," says Watkar's wife.

"This year, the cotton crop is taller than my me due to peculiar climatic conditions. If you spray, it comes back on your face," says his father Rajaram, as the son nods in affirmation. He did the job last year too but there was no hazard, Vijay gestures replying to the questions.

"I normally cover my face with a cloth, but that day I forgot," says Prashant Bhesekhar of Chincoli village, 65km from the town. He is the only one who has not undergone the surgery and can speak clearly.

"I was given a mix of finoflex, Triple Power, Ashataf. This was antidote for bollworm which has done major damage this year. Spraying is not a new affair. However, the mix handed to me was different," says Bhesekhar.

"May be the farmer wanted to spray a stronger dose on the bollworm. I worked at Raj Nishane's farm. It was a perfectly normal day. But after I had my food, I suddenly felt uneasy and started sweating heavily. Finally, I was rushed to the hospital," he says.

"Last year, it was a different mix with pesticides brands like Ashtaf, 1919, and "missile" being used. There were no cases of poisoning in the village last season," he adds.

Prashant as well as his two brothers are farm hands. Safe till now, the other two are still taking up spraying jobs. "As farm labourers, our wages for the entire year come to around Rs40,000 for each of us," he says.

"My brother Vinod's wife is eight months pregnant and he is in the hospital since a month. The only earning member of his family, he was engaged by Raju Dange, a politically influential person at Andhbori village," says Sunil Kamble, also a farmworker. Vinod lies on the hospital bed with a pipe inserted in his throat.

All patients confirmed by gestures that the cotton crop was usually tall this year and even the bollworm attack was unprecedented . They also denied having worn masks or any safety gear while spraying as it was absolutely safe over the years. Each one had mechanized pumps which are mainly made in China.

Doctors admitted that this is a yearly phenomenon. Normally, spraying cases start coming by July or August. Last year in Yavatmal, 117 patents came to the GMC of which six died. This year, the flow was normal till August, but a sudden spurt was seen in September.

Of the 450-odd patients, 33 were put on ventilator. If a ventilator does not work, tracheostomy surgery is done. Almost all on ventilator had undergone the surgery, says a doctor. In the meantime, the power suddenly goes off and the doctors as well as the relatives struggle to help the patients breath with a manual pump. Thankfully, a backup restores the electricity.

However, last year there was no climatic condition which led to overgrowth of plants.

Nearly 50km away in Wardha district, farmers hardly appeared harried. "Yes, I read it in newspapers but I don't think there is anything to worry. I sprayed pesticides two days ago. Here, we don't even bother about any safety gear," says Mansh Gulle, a farm hand in Deoli village in Wardha, 50km from Yavatmal.