THE Malwa region of Punjab is turning into toxic hotspot. The villages of Jajjal and Giana in the Talwandi Saboo block of Bathinda district, Punjab, have reported increased cases of cancer over the last five years. The cancer of oesophagus, leukaemia, uterus, breast and digestive system is common. In the neighbouring Gidderbaha area deaths of about 200 people due to cancer have been reported recently. People attribute the cases of cancer to the use of pesticides and chemical quality of groundwater.A study of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, has also found six to 11 pesticides in virtually all blood samples collected from the region.