Nearly 45 trillion bidis and cigarettes manufactured over the past 100 years in the country are expected to be responsible for nearly 100 million deaths of adult Indians. A recent study published in Current Science Magazine has said that the calculations are derived from using the most conservative estimates and yet present mortality estimates which are significant and alarming

The researchers have pressed for an urgent review of tobacco control interventions and re-examination of policies that promote the tobacco industry in India.

They said since it takes three to four decades for a smoker to die after he starts smoking, the current tobacco use was expected cause deaths only in the coming decades.

The study has estimated that there were about 190 million and 41 million lifetime bidi and cigarette smokers, respectively, in the country from 1910-2010.