In the months of August and September 1994, panic gripped the country as news of the plague epidemic in Surat spread. Few had cared to ponder over the possibility that the Latur earthquake would have a deadly sequel. That the rodent-borne disease which had struck its deadly blow as far back as 1966 would rear its lethal head again. But happen it did. And can happen again! Is there a solution? What? Vigilant surveillance? Greater hygiene awareness? Rodent extermination or control? In this two-part analysis, covering a recent study of what actually happened last year, Down To Earth examines diffvrent aspects of the plague problem