Patna, February 13 Concerned about a rise in the number of cancer patients due to the presence of arsenic and uranium in groundwater in the Seemanchal region of Bihar, the state government has formed a group of experts to address the issue, a minister said in the assembly on Friday.
Responding to a question during question hour in the House, state Health Minister Mangal Pandey said that there has been a sharp increase in the number of patients with mouth, breast, and liver cancer in the region over the years.
The Seemanchal region comprises the districts of Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, and Supaul in northern Bihar.
Pandey said, "It is concerning that cases of mouth, breast, and liver cancer have increased in the Seemanchal region due to the presence of arsenic and uranium in groundwater. The department has formed a core group of experts to find a solution to check arsenic and uranium contamination in the region's groundwater."
The experts are from the State Cancer Institute, AIIMS (Patna), Mahavir Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, and the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Muzaffarpur.
The health department conducted a comprehensive screening of cancer patients in the region from October 2022 to January 2026. The screening revealed 323 confirmed cancer cases in Purnea, followed by 103 in Katihar, 75 in Supaul, 74 in Araria, and 71 in Kishanganj, the minister said.
From January 2020 to December 2025, the state government released ₹16.27 crore for the treatment of 2,407 cancer patients in Purnea, ₹16.11 crore for 2,309 in Supaul, ₹13.86 crore for 2,049 in Araria, ₹13.07 crore for 1,945 in Katihar, and ₹6.14 crore for 938 patients in Kishanganj district, Pandey said.
Approximately 25 per cent of rural wards in 31 of the state's 38 districts have groundwater contaminated with arsenic, fluoride, and iron beyond permissible limits, according to health department officials.
Experts attribute the deterioration in groundwater quality to multiple factors, such as rapid industrial growth and urbanization, leading to the discharge of untreated industrial and municipal waste.