SIRSA, 26 June — Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Sirsa, Kumari Selja, has sounded a sharp warning over the rising number of cancer cases in the district, urging the Haryana government to immediately establish cancer testing and treatment centres in the region. She said the absence of adequate infrastructure is endangering lives and leaving economically vulnerable families in despair.
“More than 5,000 cancer patients are currently living in Sirsa, yet not a single dedicated facility exists for their diagnosis or treatment,” Selja told reporters. “People are being forced to travel hundreds of kilometres — to cities like Bikaner and PGI Rohtak — just to receive basic care. It’s inhumane.”
The health crisis in Sirsa is deepening despite a district-wide Population-Based Screening (PBS) programme that has screened nearly three lakh people, many of whom tested positive for cancer. Still, the district lacks even a single dedicated cancer unit. The burden, according to Selja, falls heaviest on the poor, who often cannot afford the travel or extended treatment required for recovery.
“All that local authorities offer are bus passes and minimal financial help — it’s not nearly enough when people are fighting for their lives,” she added.
Medical experts and local residents have also voiced concern about the growing health emergency. The shortage of accessible cancer care not only affects Sirsa but also strains nearby Fatehabad district, where patients face similar difficulties.
Selja attributed the alarming increase in cancer cases to pollution from chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and industrial waste, particularly in the Ghaggar river. She said toxic runoff has seeped into soil and groundwater, contaminating food sources and even breast milk. “This poison is reaching unborn children,” she said, noting that villages along the Ghaggar river are especially vulnerable.
Despite the mounting evidence and the rising toll, no concrete steps have been taken so far by the state government to set up cancer care infrastructure in the region. Selja demanded that immediate arrangements be made for screening and treatment centres in Sirsa to prevent further loss of life.
“This is not just a health issue,” she said. “It is a question of survival for thousands. The government must act now.”
