A warming climate, unpredictable rainfall, and longer mosquito breeding seasons are resulting in an unprecedented surge in malaria cases across the forested belt 

Gadchiroli, Maharashtra: “I lost my husband to cerebral malaria in 2018. Three years later, my elder son, who had taken his place as a constable, died the same way,” said Parvati Jagannath Madavi (40) from Aheri village in Maharashtra’s remote Gadchiroli district. By 'same way', Madavi is referring to the patrolling duty the duo undertook in the forest belt of Gadchiroli — which observes high police monitoring and patrolling due to Naxalite presence.

Her son, Mahesh Madavi (28), was on forest patrol duty when he developed a persistent fever. The family took him to the Aheri Primary Health Centre (PHC), fearing malaria, but the tests came back negative, and Mahesh was prescribed some medicines along with bed rest. 

“But how long could he stay at home?” Parvati added. 

Mahesh rejoined duty within two weeks and collapsed on the job. He was once again taken to the PHC where he fell off the bed, and being severely ill, he was urgently shifted to Chandrapur district hospital. There, doctors confirmed their worst fears: Mahesh had contracted cerebral malaria and was already in a coma.

“We took loans, tried everything to save him. But malaria took him too,” Parvati said.

Her story is not an isolated incident. Every year, families in Gadchiroli grapple with the deadly consequences of malaria. The vector-borne disease is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications, including organ failure and even death. 

Malaria is especially prevalent in areas surrounding the district’s 27 PHCs, with Bhamragad and Dhanora villages reporting the highest numbers. In 2023, Gadchiroli reported 5,866 malaria cases and 10 deaths. These numbers rose to 6,698 cases and 13 deaths in 2024. 

Gadchiroli grapples with the deadly consequences of malaria (Photo - Representative images from Pixahive)

Caught between rain, heat and malaria

According to health officials, a warming climate, unpredictable rainfall, and longer mosquito breeding seasons are resulting in an unprecedented surge in malaria cases across the forested belt. 

Data accessed through a Right to Information (RTI) query shows that the malaria cases in Gadchiroli have been steadily rising since 2019. That year, the district saw 2,428 malaria cases — which spiked to over 12,000 in 2021. While there was a dip in 2023, the trend reversed again in 2024.

These fluctuations also mirror the changes in local climate patterns. For example, in February 2024, Gadchiroli experienced an unusually high maximum temperature of 31.6°C, which was above the normal range of 24-28°C.

“Higher temperatures allow mosquitoes to live longer and spread malaria over extended periods. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, which becomes easily available during the monsoon, and additionally, unseasonal rains create ripe breeding grounds for them. This not only increases malaria risk during the rainy season but also extends it to unexpected times of the year and to once safer areas,” Dr Bhushan Divekar Chaudhari, Taluka Medical Officer in Bhamragad, told 101Reporters.

Dr Bhushan Divekar Chaudhari, Taluka Medical Officer in Bhamragad (Photo - Sanjana Khandare, 101Reporters)

Rainfall patterns too have become increasingly erratic. According to Dr Chaudhari, Gadchiroli now faces prolonged dry spells punctuated by heavy, untimely rains, especially in the pre-monsoon season. Water scarcity during low rainfall periods forces people to store water in open containers, creating ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.

“Moreover, these unpredictable shifts in rainfall make agricultural planning difficult, which eventually leads to stagnant water bodies. These sources allow the mosquito population to thrive,” said Prajakta Pedapalliwar, former chairperson of the Aheri Municipal Council, adding, “Specially, in Aheri, rice is commonly cultivated, and leftover stubble is often left in the fields, which also traps water, further encouraging mosquito breeding.”

“It’s crucial to break the myth that malaria is only a monsoon disease. It can strike at any time,” Pedapalliwar said.

Where help doesn’t reach

The situation in Gadchiroli gets trickier due to the inaccessibility of several areas in the district. During monsoon season, about 212 villages become entirely cut off due to flooding and poor road access. Out of Gadchiroli’s 1,675 villages, 766 have fewer than 300 residents — too small to meet the criteria for posting permanent healthcare workers like ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists). As a result, many villages remain without even basic primary healthcare support.

One such village is Jimlagatta in Aheri taluka, where in September 2024, Ramesh Veladi lost his two sons to malaria within just two hours of each other. Bajirao Veladi (3) and Dinesh Veladi (6) were taken to the nearest healthcare sub-centre in Bori village, where their condition worsened, but there was no ambulance to take them to the larger hospital in Pattigav.

With no other option, Veladi carried his sons on his shoulders, walking nearly 15 kilometres through muddy paths and swollen streams. By the time he reached, it was too late. He returned the same way, this time with the lifeless bodies of his children.

“One of the reasons why Aheri is relatively worse affected by the vector-borne disease as compared to other villages is the lack of proper infrastructure here,” Pedapalliwar said. 

“Everyone talks about developing Gadchiroli because of its mineral wealth, but real development still feels out of reach. The tribal communities don’t even have access to basic healthcare. The government says these areas don’t meet the population criteria for setting up health centres…but these are permanent settlements, where people live and farm. If the government brought healthcare to where people actually live, we could start seeing a real drop in malaria cases,” she added.  

Prajakta Pedapalliwar from Aheri with kids (Photo - Sanjana Khandare, 101Reporters)

The cost of neglect

Most malaria cases are reported during the monsoon season, when transportation becomes a major obstacle. Flooded rivers and washed-out forest paths make it difficult for patients to reach PHCs.

“Government hospitals have a mandated three-day course of medication when a malarial case is reported. But, deaths occur not just because someone has contracted malaria but also due to the delay in treatment,” Dr Kailas Nikhade, an environmental researcher from Gadchiroli, said. “Even police personnel stationed in forests contract malaria, but helicopters are sent immediately to evacuate them. That level of response has never been available to ordinary citizens,” he added. 

For ordinary citizens, ASHA workers are responsible for delivering first-line care, but the terrain and climate conditions often limit their ability to respond promptly. Each ASHA is typically assigned multiple hamlets spread across forested areas with poor transport access. Kalpana Pungati, an ASHA worker from Kiar village in Bhamragad block, described how monsoons have become increasingly severe over the past decade, making outreach difficult. “We often have to cross overflowing rivers and streams to reach patients. Earlier, the water levels were manageable. Now, due to erratic and heavy rainfall, the volume and force of water have increased,” she said. “Roads are in bad shape, bridges are no longer reliable, and many times we have to travel alone carrying medicines and vaccines.”

Sayali Meshram, a resident of Aheri, echoed the same sentiment. “During the monsoon, transportation comes to a halt. People are forced to carry sick relatives on cots or shoulders for several kilometres to reach the nearest hospital,” she said. “This year, a young child died from fever. His father had no other option but to carry the body for over three kilometres on foot. These are the deaths of poor people, and no one pays attention.”

There is a pressing need to raise awareness about the seriousness of malaria (Photo sourced by Sanjana Khandare)

The gaps on the ground

Despite government efforts to control malaria in Gadchiroli — from distributing mosquito nets and mosquito-repellent creams to releasing guppy fish to control larvae growth — prevention remains a challenge on the ground. 

Pallavi Gortekar, an ASHA worker from Malewada, said, “People are given mosquito nets, but some use them to catch fish instead of protecting themselves.” According to Kavita Kudmete of Alapalli village, the nets are “too hot for children in summer, so people use them for fishing and hardly anyone uses Odomos daily.” 

“What we need is a large-scale intervention; mosquito nets and creams are not enough,” said Aheri resident Jayashree Madavi. She added that poor drainage systems and mismanaged wastewater are the major factors contributing to the region’s mosquito problem.  

Pedapalliwar, who is also an environmental researcher, agreed with Madavi, adding that tribal communities living close to forests and rivers are especially vulnerable to the vector-borne disease. “Their forest-dependent lifestyles, minimal clothing, and the lack of basic sanitation infrastructure increase their exposure to the disease,” she explained. 

Social activist and former Zila Parishad member Dr Lalsu Nagoti concurred. “We must go beyond health centres and mosquito nets,” he said. “Clean ponds, mosquito predators like guppies and frogs, and timely training for villagers to adapt to climate shifts are all crucial.” 

There is also a pressing need to raise awareness about the seriousness of malaria and the importance of timely treatment. Pedapalliwar said low literacy levels and deeply rooted traditional beliefs affect the health-seeking behaviour in the region. “Some villagers tend to delay seeking formal medical treatment or rely on home remedies first,” she added. 

Nagesh Madeshi from the Hope Foundation, an NGO said superstitions and language barriers obstruct early diagnosis and treatment. “At least 40% of people still turn to witch doctors as their first point of contact,” he said. “Language is another major hurdle. When doctors from outside are posted at local health centres but don’t speak tribal languages like Gondi or Madia, they are not able to explain just how dangerous malaria is.”

According to experts, healthcare access is also hampered by national policies that do not account for Gadchiroli’s sparse and forested geography. Dr Abhay Bang, a public health expert and the Founder and Director of Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH) said, “We definitely need flexible criteria for PHCs in tribal areas, more mobile medical units, and stronger networks of health workers in remote villages.” 

A plan in place

These are universal concerns across many remote villages in Gadchiroli — a district the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare identifies as one of the six most malaria-affected in the country.

In a step toward eliminating the disease, the Maharashtra government launched a district-wide malaria eradication plan on April 1, 2025. The initiative, backed by Rs 25 crore from the Tribal Development Department, was announced in the Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier this year. Developed by a Special Task Force led by Dr Bang, the three-year plan aims to bring malaria cases in Gadchiroli down to zero.

The plan includes distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets, regular spraying in high-risk areas, immediate blood testing for anyone with fever, and health communication in tribal languages. Emphasis has also been placed on a time-bound, tightly monitored rollout, with the hope that the most vulnerable will no longer fall through the cracks of an overburdened rural health system.

This story was produced as a part of 101Reporters Climate Change Reporting Grant.

Cover Photo - A woman distributing mosquito nets (Photo - Sanjana Khandare, 101Reporters)