PATHLAIYA: Traces of lethal pesticides have been found among an overwhelming 94 per cent of Nepal Secondary School students at Amlekhgunj in Bara district. A fresh study has revealed the disturbing fact.

How did the victims fall prey to the toxic stuff? The the reason was not far to seek. The chemical pesticides were stored at a warehouse, located next to the school. Dr Sital Kaji Shrestha, who holds a post-graduate degree in Animal Husbandry from an Indian university, disclosed the contents of the study, which was conducted for eight months. Various harmful chemical elements like DDT, Indosulfine and Chlorpyrifos were found in the victims’ blood samples. Many more locals could get affected by the toxin in the coming days.

What are the side-effects of the infection?

The affected students will fall ill frequently, and the girls can suffer from various gynaecological problems. The fear of cancer, too, looms large. There is also a high risk that the offspring of victims might be physically challenged. If the toxic content goes up, then the victim could meet a premature end to h/his life. Take the case of Saroda Thakuri, a Standard 10 student, who died recently.

Incidentally, the root cause to the problem has had its origin more than

34 years ago. The government had imported 40 metric tons of pesticide from several European countries, which subsequently went

to seed.