300 Villagers in Maharashtra Lost Their Hair Overnight: A Padma Shri Doctor Found Out Why

Imagine waking up to clumps of hair on your pillow. Now, imagine this happening to hundreds of people overnight — across 15 villages. This bizarre and terrifying reality struck Buldhana, Maharashtra, affecting over 300 villagers between the ages of 4 and 70.

But it wasn’t just hair loss. People developed skin rashes, brittle nails, and extreme weakness. Panic gripped the city — schools were closed, weddings were postponed, and villagers lived in constant fear.

Many suspected that the drinking water was to blame. But when tests came back negative for poisoning, the mystery only deepened. What was causing this strange outbreak?

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The Padma Shri doctor who solved the case

Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar, Padma Shri awardee, renowned for his work in scorpion bite treatment, wasn’t convinced by the water contamination theory. Determined to uncover the truth, he launched a month-long investigation — spending Rs 92,000 from his own pocket to conduct lab tests.

His team collected hair, blood, urine, and food samples, meticulously analysing diets, food sources, and symptoms.

The culprit? Selenium — at a staggering 600 times the safe limit! The source of contamination was something as common as wheat flour (atta), a staple in every household. The villagers had unknowingly been consuming toxic levels of selenium through their daily meals.  This wheat had been sourced from Punjab through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Normally, selenium is beneficial in small amounts, but when consumed in excess, it turns harmful. Too much of it can wreak havoc on the body — causing hair to fall out in clumps, nails to turn brittle, skin to develop painful rashes, and even leading to nerve damage.

Authorities act, but bigger questions remain

Dr Bawaskar’s findings compelled authorities to act immediately. The contaminated wheat was pulled from distribution, an inquiry was launched, and food stocks across the country were checked.

For affected families, simply stopping wheat consumption brought relief — many saw hair regrowth within weeks. However, this crisis exposed a major loophole in India’s food safety system.

- If one batch of wheat could cause this devastation, how many more go untested?
- Shouldn’t ration meant for millions be rigorously checked before distribution?

One startup, O Yatra, has built an AI-powered device that monitors the quality of midday meals in government schools. Could similar technology be used for ration supplies too?

This incident is a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter food safety regulations and technological interventions to prevent such crises in the future. But if one doctor’s determination could uncover the truth and protect hundreds, imagine what stronger policies and better technology could do for millions.

Edited by Khushi Arora