Srinagar (JKNS): With cancer cases on the rise across Jammu and Kashmir, prominent Surgical Oncologist Dr Qazi Ashraf has warned that pollution especially the region’s unique Karewa dust has emerged as a significant yet largely neglected contributor to the surge, with “virtually no debate or awareness” around its health impacts.
Surgical Oncologist Dr Qazi Ashraf, while speaking to news agency JKNS, said that pollution has become a major contributing factor to cancer, yet remains an issue that receives “no real debate or necessary awareness activities.”
“Pollution is an important factor among the causes of cancer, and it plays a very significant role. Unfortunately, despite being such a dangerous issue, there is no debate on it and no awareness activities are conducted, although they should be,” Dr Qazi said.
Explaining the forms of pollution currently affecting Kashmir, Dr Qazi said, “The pollution that we see today particularly due to the use of gasoline in vehicles and the rise in the number of vehicles has increased dust in the atmosphere. Our soil here is Karewas soil, and the problem with Karewas is that it contains a very high amount of dust particles compared to other states of India.”
He said the dust in Kashmir is of a special type, similar to the silicon-based dust of Ladakh, where conditions such as COPD and silicosis are widely observed.
“Here, the dust is extremely fine and thin due to the Karewa soil. When vehicles move, dust constantly rises, and no special care is taken. The dust that gathers on roadsides is not removed, and if the edges of the roads are not cleaned, then whatever work we do for cancer prevention always remains incomplete,” he said.
When asked about the rising number of cancer cases, Dr Qazi said, “Across the world, cases are increasing because many factors are involved. Many new techniques and tests have been developed which can now detect cancer at early stages. Secondly, awareness among people has increased a lot, especially after the arrival of the internet.”
He added that improved transportation and diagnostics have made detection easier. “Earlier, 10–15 years ago, diagnostic tests like endoscopy, CT scan, ultrasound, mammography and others were available only in Srinagar. They were not available outside Srinagar. Today, these tests are available in every district, so it becomes easy for people to get tested, and diseases are detected,” he said.
Dr Qazi further said that rising education levels and access to mobile phones and the internet have made people more conscious about their health.
“People are now more aware and cautious about their bodies. If anyone feels even a small issue, they immediately visit a doctor. Full-body check-ups are done today, which were not common earlier this is also one reason why cancer is being detected. Earlier, many cases were missed which are now getting detected,” he said.
Comparing the situation to two decades ago, he added,
“Twenty years ago, not everyone had transportation. A patient would only visit a nearby PHC. Today, everyone has a vehicle, and people report to hospitals even with minor complaints.”
Commenting on the figures released by the Ministry of Health, Dr Qazi said the data is observational and cannot be considered fully official or practical.
“If we want to see whether cancer is truly increasing in absolute terms, we need a proper population-based cancer registry,” he said.
Earlier, as per Union Health Ministry data, 14,112 cancer cases were recorded in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024 alone, indicating a sharp rise.
In the last five years, the number has reached 67,037 cases, raising concerns among health experts and policymakers. —(JKNS)
