By Neyaz Farooquee
Every year, monsoon or no monsoon, everything runs the risk of getting ruined by flood in Gopal Ganj, Bihar. But it was a bit different this year. For a change, routine annual floods didn’t come at all. But then came, with the Eid and Dussehra festivities, a new villain—Mehndi.
Decorating hands and feet with Mehndi by girls and women, on special occasions like festivals and weddings, is customary in Indian sub-continent. Earlier people used to pluck leaves from its tree and grind it into semi-solid paste for using it. After drying up, it acts as temporary tattoo that slowly fades away in a few days. Presently, prepared Mehndi is easily available in the local market for just 10 bucks.
20 year old Nahida Perveen of Gopal Ganj uses it on her hands and feet since her childhood as part of her Eid celebrations. But this Eid, she says, she used Mehndi bought from market only to get inflammation, irritation and vomiting.
Samina Khatoon, 33, also from Gopal Ganj, used it on the occasion. “Two or three hours later, I felt irritation on my hands and feet. Soon it started swelling, nausea followed and I fainted,” Says Khatoon. She was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night. “With the colour of Mehndi still clearly visible on my hands and feet, I celebrated my Eid in hospital bed, in the company of doctors and other Mehndi patients,” adds Khatoon.
Gudiya, 23, a resident of neighbouring district Siwan, is 23 miles from nearest Govt hospital. Just returned from the hospital, she says, “I used Mehndi on every festival and wedding but for the first time something like this has happened.” She adds further, “I will never use it again.”
More than 500 girls were treated for Mehndi reactions, said Dr. Bipin Bihari Chandra, a physician at Gopal Ganj Hospital. Hundreds of similar cases were reported from different parts of Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand.
In some places rumours of death due to Mehndi reaction, that eventually turned out to be false, made the situation worse. According to Dr. Shambhunath Singh of Gopal Ganj Government Hospital, “... a large influx of patients was not only due to Mehndi reactions, but psychological effects as well.”
Another doctor at the Govt hospital, Shayam Saran observed, “The Mehndi, it seems, were contaminated with PPD to get sharp and lasting color.” PPD (para-Phenylenediamine) is used in dyes and pigments and its use in hair dye is controversial as it is allergic to skin.
Same week, for Dussehra festivals, buying and selling continued, grand Pandals erected, sound of hymns of Prayer reverberated but young girls were less than being happy as they were instructed not to use Mehndi this Dussehra. So, virtually, a Jewellery was missing from their embellishment.
“Mehndi used by patients has been collected and sent to laboratories for testing. Two doctors have been suspended for showing negligence in treating Mehndi patients,” said Upender Singh, a Police officer from Gopal Ganj. Singh confirmed there has been no arrest in the case so far.
While, apparently contaminated Mehndi has been sent for testing, residents here are not optimistic if any action would be taken against the manufacturer. Nishat Alam, a resident of Gopal Ganj says, “It will meet same dead-end like any other case in Bihar.”
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