The human cost of a deadly weed killer: banning of paraqua in Telangana

AI Summary

Telangana state in India has banned the use of paraquat, a highly toxic weed killer responsible for numerous fatalities, including suicides and accidental deaths. The ban follows extensive campaigning and highlights ongoing public health concerns associated with paraquat usage.

In March, Telangana banned paraquat, one of the world’s most widely used and highly toxic weedicides, becoming only the third State in India to do so. The herbicide is responsible for hundreds of deaths each year, most of them by taking their own lives, and some accidental. Serish Nanisetti reports on the campaign that led to the ban and why much more remains to be done