Two farmworkers died and three were hospitalised on Saturday after suspected excessive exposure to pesticides while working in the paddy fields of Vengal-Irukara in the upper Kuttanad village of Peringara in Thiruvalla.
The dead were identified as Mathai Easo, alias Johny, 68, and Sanalkumar, 44, of Kazhuppil Colony at Vengal.
They were taken to the Changanassery General Hospital with severe breathing difficulties on Friday evening and referred to the Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam, where they were declared brought dead on Saturday.
The other three farmworkers, Unnikrishnan, Sunilkumar, and Prabhakaran, who too suffered breathing difficulties, were administered first aid at the Changanassery General Hospital and are out of danger, sources said.
Assistant Director of Agriculture Joyce K. Koshy told The Hindu that the workers reportedly engaged in pesticide spraying at the paddy fields on Thursday.
As per the statements of the three workers, they had used a highly toxic mixture of three pesticides for spraying in the paddy fields, Ms. Koshy said.
Unscientific use
Ms. Koshy said unscientific use of the pesticide mixture, which included Cypermethrin and Quinalphos, and excessive inhalation of the toxic gas emanating from it might have led to the tragedy.
She said the department had not recommended the pesticide with the trade mark ‘Virat’, a combination of Cypermethrin and Quinalphos, for spraying in paddy fields. The department sealed the shop at Peringara from where they bought the pesticide.
Hospitals’ claim
Staff Reporter adds from Kottayam:
Medical Superintendent at the Changanassery General Hospital Ajithkumar said the workers were immediately referred to the medical college hospital on confirming it as a case of contact poisoning.
The medical college authorities, however, maintained that the two were declared brought dead to the hospital.
“We are awaiting the results of a chemical examination to ascertain the exact cause of death,” said R.P. Renjin, Resident Medical Officer at the Kottayam medical college.
Official sources said a probe was on into reports of pesticide spraying without adequate safety measures and on whether toxic chemicals were used for spraying beyond the permissible limit.
