Chhattisgarh sterilisation deaths: Drugs laced with rat poison killed 13 women

Almost two weeks after the deaths of 13 women in a botched up sterilisation drive in Chhattisgarh, the state health ministry confirmed that the medication given to the women was laced with zinc phosphide – a rodenticide – which was the reason for their deaths.

Chhattisgarh Health Minister Amar Agarwal confirmed that the medicines given to the victims were contaminated. A report in  NDTV quoted the health Minister conceding to the fact that the government needed to be more careful and that there needed to be a better system in place to keep an eye on FDA violations on sale of medicines.

Speaking to NDTV,  Agarwal said:

“The drug report confirms the presence of poisonous substances, which also includes zinc phosphide. We have handed over the report to the police and they have to investigate now. It is shocking to find the presence of poisonous substances in our medicines. It is a challenge for the country.”

Earlier probes by authorities had indicated that the medicine — Ciprocin 500mg tablets — administered to those who underwent the botched surgeries at Pendari and Gaurella villages in Bilaspur may have contained zinc phosphide.

The Times of India had quoted  experts as saying zinc phosphide had the same effect on humans as on rodents. Acid in the digestive system of reacts with zinc phosphide and generates toxic phosphine gas.

“It reacts with water and stomach juices to release phosphine gas which can enter blood stream and adversely affect lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and central nervous system,” the expert was quoted by the newspaper.

According to the TOI report, the drug samples were sent different labs across the country and a lab in Delhi confirmed the presence of the poison in the medicine. In addition to this, the lab report also mentioned that the “main salt, Ciprolfloxacin, in the antibiotic was found to be 300mg, when it should have been 500mg.”

The director of the pharmaceutical company which supplied the ‘poison-laced’ medicines, and his son are already under arrest by the police under Section 420 (cheating) after Food and Drug Administration authorities had lodged a complaint, earlier this month.

The Congress, though, is not missing an opportunity to take on the ruling BJP government. According to this NDTV report, the party is planning a five-day 130-km padyatra demanding the resignation of the health minister. Speaking to the channel, Chhattisgarh Congress state president Bhupesh Baghel said:

“We are not at all satisfied with the investigation. The government is trying to cover up. It is acting against the people but not the real culprits who are their supporters.”

Meanwhile, 21 women were discharged from two hospitals in Bilaspur district where they had been undergoing treatment along with several other women. PTI reported.