Two farmers admitted to Yavatmal GMCH after spraying herbicide sans protection

YAVATMAL: After the hue and cry over 62 deaths from pesticide inhalation poisoning in Yavatmal district last year, the Government Medical College has flagged two cases of diarrhoea, which is suspected to have been caused due to unsafe spraying of chemicals. Two farmers admitted to the local on July 1 reported having sprayed Hitweed, a herbicide, without any protection, and were suffering from diarrhoea, a typical symptom of pesticide poisoning.

Doctors, however, said both patients were only treated for diarrhoea, and not for pesticide poisoning. One of them was discharged on July 7 while the other is stable but still in hospital.

The patients, Prashant Nanaji Kawade (42) of village Fulai of Darwha tehsil, and Sandeep Devaji Meshram (24) of Pengare in Kelapur tehsil, were admitted on July 1 with complaints of severe loose motion and vomiting, said head of medicine department Dr Baba Elke of GMC.

“Prashant had sprayed Hitweed, a herbicide, for 12 hours with his hand pump, and then developed loose motion and vomiting,” Dr Elke said. “Sandeep too had sprayed the same herbicide for two days continuously with his hand pump, and developed similar symptoms.”

Dean Dr Manish Shrigiriwar confirmed the admission of two patients, and said he has promptly reported the matter to district collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh. “We noted the spraying of herbicide by both patients in their medical history. However, we treated them symptomatically for diarrhoea and vomiting only. They were not administered any antidote for pesticide poisoning.”

Shrigiriwar said there may have been lapses on the part of the agriculture department, which is responsible for use of safe guard kits by farmers while spraying pesticides or weedicides, and also keep a watch over sale of pesticides in the district.

“Last year, everyone was pointing fingers at doctors, accusing of not informing the government in time about the pesticide deaths. This year, we have promptly reported the incident to the district administration. Let them decide the future plan, as the crop is yet to grow to the stage of pest attack and widespread spraying,” Dr Shrigiriwar said.

Datta Thakre, a farmer from village Akola Bazaar, told TOI on Sunday that the gram panchayat has failed to provide kits, proper training and supervise spraying, so farmers are going about the traditional method of pesticide spraying.

“Last year, the government and pesticide manufacturers blamed farmers for the large number of deaths in the region, and assured proper and prompt training to labourers and farmers on the use of mask and other precautions. But nothing has been done so far,” Thakre said.