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Shivaram, 65. Died 8 years ago. Reason: Cancer.

Parvathi, 60. Shivaram's wife. Expired 6 years back. Cancer, again.

Gowri, 30, is unmarried. She is the youngest daughter of Shivaram-Parvathi  couple.  She is a epilepsy patient since 15 years. Poor lady, today she drags life in a dark room of her house.

Vishwanath, 15 is son of Shivaram's eldest daughter. He has two serious illnesses: epilepsy and Mental retardation.

Shrinivasa Rao, a well to do farmer lost his wife 4 years ago to Cancer. Son Prakash is surviving, thanks to the timely treatment for cancer. Earlier to this, Prakash's 3 day old infant had breathed its last . Cause unknown. After performing poojas and prayers, his wife conceived again. The got a male child. But the joy was short-lived. On 3^rd month, the baby fell ill. It was admitted to KMC hospital, Manipal. Tests indicated that baby has blood cancer. The couple lost their second issue too.

Ramesh Rao has been visiting psychiatric hospital at Mangalore since the last 20 years. His two brothers too aren't spared from this illness. They have to frequent psychiatric OP department. Raos didn't have children. Ramesh' wife got depressed and tried to end her life. She couldn't be saved from her third suicide attempt.

Subraya, 50, lost his mother five years ago. Cancer. Eldest son is mentally retarded. Daughter was going to college. One day she fell unconcious. It was a fits attack. Young son, while returning from school was shivering. Medical examination ruled out malaria and typhoid. Finally the boy was taken to KMC hospital, Manipal. Examination indicated leukemia. Poor boy couldn't be saved.

Narayana, who retired, as a Tahsildar was ken to do social work after retirement. But, within six months of retirement, cancer took his dreams away.

Govindan, a school teacher, retired last month. He was hoping that his son would get a government if he dies before retirement. There was reason for this wish. He is suffering from cancer since a year. But fate didn't oblige him his way. Concealing his bitterness, he leads a life smiling outside.

Smt Leela, 35, conceived 8 times, but her dreams of having a child didn't materialise. Doctors couldn't save the infant all the time. Medical reason not known.

Ishwara left his home one day without any valid reason. Later, he was traced at Dharmasthala temple, in a very depressed state. His sister, married long back, has a son, who is suffering from cerebral palsy.

The list of cases is endless. Above are only a few real-life case histories. Only the names of the concerned persons are changed, for evident reasons.

This is the story of a northernmost village of Kerala, Padre, bordering Karnataka state . In Enmakaje Pachayath of Kasaragod State. This high incidence of killer diseases is being noticed since the last one to one and half decades. I have been practicing in this locality for the last 19 years. Four years ago , I had written a letter to KMJ ( Feb 97 issue), with a hope to attract medical researchers attention to this unusually high number of CNS related diseases .

Local people have strong belief in the village diety. Many villagers are under the opinion that their illness is a result of their dieties curse. As such nobody has taken this much seriously.

There is an outstanding aspect concerned with this problem . Two small rivulets - the 'Swarga thodu' and 'Padpu thodu' - flow here, dividing the village. At Poyye, these two rivulet join together . High incidence of disease are found in the families that indirectly consume water from these two rivulets. The total are might come to 5 square kms, with 2,000 population and about 200 houses.

There are as many as 30 psychiatric cases, 20-30 epileptics, 25-30 cancer cases (including those dead due to this disease), 15-20 Mental retardations, many suicide cases and hundreds of Asthma sufferers . All these diseases have affected without any class, caste, religion , sex or age bars . A house to house survey would give a still clear and exhaustive picture of number of cases.

What is the main reason behind this unusual tragedy? Nobody has answer. I was suspecting some sort of radiation hazard earlier. Kerala Cashew Plantation Corporation has been conducting aerial spray of endosulphan here from the last 30 years. To prevent tea-mosquito attack, the insecticide is sprayed through helicopter, thrice a year. The cashew plantation is situated at hilltops or at a very high elevations everywhere. As such, particles of insecticide is carried kilometres away by wind. Even a week after the spray, the whole village contains a sickening smell of the pesticides. People narrate how fauna - starting from fish,frogs upto reptiles and foxes have fast vanished from this area . There are hundreds of waterbodies like dug-wells and tanks in this area. Locals have protested against the aerial spray, but in vain.

Endosulphan belongs to the organochlorine group of pesticides which is highly toxic. It is absorbed through skin, mucosa and orally. Resultant health hazards include skin diseases, asthma, neurological problems, carcinoma, infertility, mental retardation, liver damage etc. Could the aerial pesticide spray be the root cause of a string of severe diseases at Padre?

I urge that the State Government should immediately conduct a thorough medical study about the situation and protect our poor people from the clutches of such diseases. Endosulphan spray should be immediately stopped to avoid further complications. People from all walks and political parties should unite for this human cause. If necessary, court intervention might be sought. Compensations for the victims must be given by the concerned, if this happens to be a man-made tragedy.

Because of our bus junction our area is also known by a beautiful name, 'Swarga'. This in Kannada means Heaven. We shouldn't allow this god's land to become another Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Bhopal or Handigodu. Or has it already become one?

Dr. Mohana Kumar Y.S.,MBBS.,
Kumar Clinic
Post: Vaninagar 671552
Kasaragod District, Kerala

Phone: 91-499-860233 (R) , 866133 (C)

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