India, April 23 -- Down To Earth visited Panipat's petrochemical cluster to find how the area is in throes of a health crisis

Rafeeq (name changed on request) works at the Naptha cracker terminal of the petrochemical industrial cluster in Haryana's Panipat district. He has been working for the past 12 years, with an average of 8 working hours spent in the manufacturing plant. The last couple of years have been particularly difficult for the family. Rafeeq has been suffering from an acute respiratory infection. Being the only bread earner in the family, he has had to take several days of absence from work, leading to loss of pay. Rafeeq's physician told Down To Earth (DTE) that he may not be able to continue working at the plant.

Rafeeq ...