Home / Health / Bihar's Seemanchal: Cancer Surges Due to Tainted Water
Bihar's Seemanchal: Cancer Surges Due to Tainted Water
13 Feb
Summary
- Groundwater arsenic and uranium contamination linked to rising cancer rates.
- Seemanchal region's groundwater shows concerning levels of contaminants.
- Health department is forming expert groups to address contamination.
A notable rise in mouth, breast, and liver cancer cases has been identified in Bihar's Seemanchal region. Health Minister Mangal Pandey highlighted this trend, expressing deep concern over the likely cause: arsenic and uranium contamination in the region's groundwater. The Seemanchal area includes the districts of Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, and Supaul.
To address this critical issue, the health department has formed an expert group comprising specialists from leading institutions like AIIMS and the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital. This group is tasked with developing strategies to mitigate the contamination. Comprehensive screening from October 2022 to January 2026 revealed a significant number of cancer cases across the affected districts.
Further data indicates that approximately 25% of rural wards in 31 of Bihar's 38 districts exhibit groundwater contamination with arsenic, fluoride, and iron exceeding permissible limits. Experts attribute this widespread groundwater quality decline to factors including rapid industrial growth and urbanisation, leading to the discharge of untreated waste.
