Report

The train from Bathinda to Bikaner has earned the nickname “cancer train” because numerous cancer patients from Punjab use it to seek treatment in Rajasthan. Every night at 9:30 PM, the train departs from Bathinda and arrives in Bikaner at 6:00 AM, covering around 325 kilometres. Sixty per cent of the riders are cancer patients of various ages from all over Punjab, which makes this characteristic notable. This 12-coach train got its name due to the rising cancer cases in Punjab, believed to stem from pesticides, pollution, and government inaction.

Punjab’s Cancer Train

Over time, the Bathinda-Bikaner train has gained a reputation as “Punjab’s cancer train” for transporting many patients to seek treatment. The high cost of cancer therapy drives this movement between states. Cancer patients receive complimentary train tickets, while their companions enjoy a 75% discount. Most passengers come from the Malwa district of Punjab, with one-third heading to the Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Bikaner. Hospitals in Bikaner provide financial assistance up to Rs 1,500,000 ($US1,787) to patients through the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh Scheme, while patients in Punjab face greater challenges accessing this support.

The Malwa region is also known as India’s cancer belt, with high cancer rates influenced by excessive pesticide use, uranium in water, and certain chemicals.

The Cost of Agricultural Chemicals

Since the 1960s, Haryana and Punjab have seen increased crop yields from the “Green Revolution,” but excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides has led to rising cancer rates. Punjab, consuming 5,270 metric tonnes of pesticides annually, faces significant contamination of water and food. Studies show pesticide traces in breast milk and cow milk from Ludhiana, alongside metal pollutants in groundwater.

The economic burden of cancer treatment is high, with costs ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 600,000, while per capita health expenditure remains low. A One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and ecosystem health, could mitigate pesticide overuse through sustainable pest management, though changing farmers’ practices poses challenges. Implementing these solutions is vital for reducing health risks linked to agricultural chemicals.

Source: Foodtech News, The Wire