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5,600 farm mishaps in a year in Punjab

Major accidents take place while operating machines like chaff cutters, sprayers, etc.

Chandigarh: The use of farm machinery, digging of wells, snake bites and other such factors lead to nearly 5,600 accidents in a year in the agricultural fields of Punjab, with 22 per cent mishaps being fatal and 21 per cent leading to amputation.

The major accidents take place while operating machines like chaff cutters, sprayers, tractor and trailers, electric motors and threshers.

The farmer community suffers major loss annually due to these accidents in terms of 22 per cent deaths, 23 per cent poisoning, 21 per cent amputations, 11 per cent fractures, six per cent electric shocks, four per cent multiple injuries and 10 per cent minor injuries, as per a survey report of the `Progressive Farming', a journal of the Punjab Agriculture Univeristy (PAU).

In summer and rainy seasons, major accidents occur due to presence of poisonous gas in tubewells, collapsing of wells in sandy areas and in insecticide spraying.

The farmers also suffered snake and dog bites as that they did not wear long shoes in the fields. Those working in paddy plantation were most vulnerable to snake bites, C.J.S. Pannu and N.K. Chhuneja of the PAU's Department of Farm Power and Machinery stated in the survey.

The farmers normally did not check the presence of poisonous gas in the wells while entering for installation or repair of motors, they said while giving reasons for people collapsing inside.

It has also been observed that the tractors overturned due to the driver's negligence and non-use of `Roll Over Protective Structure' (ROPS).

The report also pointed out that loose high tension wires passing above the fields come into contact with threshers during harvesting causing electric shocks which many a time proved fatal.

It suggested the state electricity board should be approached before the harvest to check such loose wires.

"The wires should be high enough so that the combine harvester with hood may pass without touching," the study report said. -- UNI

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