Actor Rahul Ramakrishna’s brother dies of paraquat poisoning; MP flags crisis in Parliament
HYDERABAD: Actor Rahul Ramakrishna’s brother has died after consuming paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide, prompting the actor to appeal to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for urgent intervention.
The incident has drawn fresh attention to paraquat poisoning, as Kadiyam Kavya raised the issue in Parliament, citing growing fatalities and lack of an antidote.
MP highlights toxicity, seeks central ban on herbicide
“Paraquat dichloride is an internationally recognised, most acutely toxic herbicide. Even minimal exposure can cause lung, kidney and liver failure, and finally death. There is no antidote,” Kavya said.
She urged the Centre to impose a nationwide ban, noting that states lack the authority for permanent prohibition.
Studies reveal rising cases, high fatality rates
A study published in the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine in February 2026 analysed 166 paraquat poisoning cases between 2015 and 2024. Nearly 80% of patients died, with median survival at five days.
Cases rose sharply from one in 2015 to 53 in 2024. Andhra Pradesh accounted for 65.7% of cases, with Kadapa and Chittoor districts contributing the majority.
At Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, a separate 10-year study of 400 patients with paraquat-related acute kidney injury reported a 75% mortality rate. Of 1,342 admissions, about 30% developed kidney injury.
Delayed treatment and easy access worsen crisis
Doctors say paraquat causes rapid organ damage. It accumulates in the lungs, leading to irreversible fibrosis, followed by respiratory, renal and liver failure.
The poison is excreted quickly, with 80–90% leaving the body within six hours. However, only 12.6% of patients reach hospitals within that window. Nearly half arrive after 24 hours, when damage is largely irreversible.
Most victims are young men in their twenties and thirties. In one study, 97.6% of cases involved deliberate self-poisoning, often linked to family conflict or financial stress.
Paraquat’s availability in rural agricultural shops has been identified as a key factor. “PQ is a readily available and unrestricted weedicide,” researchers noted.
Limited treatment options, policy action demanded
A meta-analysis of 15 Indian studies found a pooled mortality rate of 79%. Some benefit was observed with combination therapy (NACS), but doctors said treatment remains largely ineffective.
“This calls for immediate national policy intervention,” researchers stated.
Medical associations, including the Indian Medical Association and Doctors Against Paraquat Poisoning, have called for a complete ban. Over 70 countries, including the UK and EU nations, have already prohibited its use.
Experts said prevention is the only reliable strategy. “When a substance has such high fatality with no antidote, restricting access is critical,” doctors said.
A preventable public health crisis
The death of Rahul Ramakrishna’s brother has brought wider public attention to an issue long known in hospitals across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Doctors warned that unless paraquat is removed from the market, deaths will continue. “Every case follows the same pattern , easy access, delayed treatment, and limited medical options,” they said.
