Panic gripped several districts in Bengal today as several women fell ill after applying mehendi on their hands. More than a dozen women have been admitted in various hospitals.

In Burdwan, nine women were admitted to medical college hospital, while two were admitted in Bankura and four in Malda. More than hundred people have been reportedly affected.

Hospital superintendents said that a chemical used in the mehendi led to skin diseases among users. The panic intensified to such an extent that the district authorities had to initiate awareness campaigns in the affected areas.

“We received reports of young women falling ill after applying mehendi in Galsi and other areas of the district. Some had to be admitted in hospitals. However, most others are panic cases. We have sent officers to the spot and initiated awareness campaigns so that the panic does not spread. We are trying to find out the reason behind the incidents,” said Sridhar Ghosh, District Magistrate of Malda.

In Bankura about 150 women and young girls thronged the Bankura Samillani Medical College. “They complained of severe itching and a burning sensation on their mehendi-applied hands and vomiting. We think some chemical in the mehendi led to this,” said Prabhat Chakraborty, Superintendent of the Bankura Medical College Hospital.

“We had applied mehendi on our hands last night. However, after a few hours our palms started itching and we felt a burning sensation. My sister and I started to vomit. Many of our neighbours and friends also fell ill,” said Rubita Chaudhury, a first-year student of Burdwan Women’s College. Rubita and her sister have been admitted in the Burdwan Medical College Hospital.

... contd.