Paraquat is a powerful herbicide commonly used in agriculture to eliminate weeds. However, it is extremely dangerous to humans. Even a small amount, if ingested, can cause severe damage to the body, affecting the mouth, digestive system, and lungs, often leading to breathing difficulties

Telugu actor Rahul Ramakrishna is grieving the loss of his brother, who passed away due to paraquat poisoning. The actor, known for his role in Arjun Reddy, shared the heartbreaking news on social media, expressing shock and concern over how easily the highly toxic substance is accessible.

On Thursday night, Ramakrishna took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to speak about the tragedy and urge authorities to take immediate action. Tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, he mentioned about the alarming number of poisoning cases and called for stricter regulations.

He wrote, "Honourable Sirs @TelanganaCMO @PMOIndia, Lost my brother today to Paraquat poisoning. It’s terrifyingly lethal and widely misused for self-destruction. Shocked by how easily it is available everywhere. Doctors are overwhelmed by the amount of cases.Please ban it ASAP-save lives."

What is Paraquat?