Organophosphorous compounds produce significant morbidity and mortality in India. The present study is an attempt to study the cases of poisoning admitted in a District hospital in Western Maharashtra to evaluate socio-demographic variables of these cases & to study the morbidity and mortality in different poisoning cases. Organophosphorous poisoning cases were predominant, amounting to 491 cases (32.97%). Maximum cases (59.16%) were in 18 - 35 years age group, male predominance can be seen as 60.98% cases were male & most of the patients (53.99%) were farmers. Time interval of presentation of most number of cases was more than 4 hrs because of the lack of emergency service and inefficient paramedical service needed for patient transport. In present study 50.94% of cases were hospitalized for 8 - 12 days, 78.04 % cases survived while 277 (18.60%) patients expired because of fatal complications. It is essential to establish strict policies against the sale and availability of insecticides and pesticides which are freely available in the market. Accidental poisoning can be prevented by use of personal protective equipment. There should be easy availability of loans, crop insurance schemes and appropriate market value for agricultural products to prevent suicidal tendency in farmers.

Key words: Poisoning, Socio-demographic variables, Rural area.