Brahmapur: Another farmer allegedly died by suicide in Odisha’s Ganjam district after his standing crops were damaged due to devastating floods triggered by cyclone Arnab recently.
The deceased was identified as Bulu Malik (34) of Sadabrata Nuagaon under Baliasara panchayat in Kabisuryanagar block. The incident comes four days after a farmer of Sheragada block allegedly ended his life over crop loss caused by the floods.
According to sources, Malik had cultivated paddy and vegetable crops on his farmland. However, a major portion of his crops was reportedly destroyed in the floods. Villagers said he was under severe mental distress following the agricultural losses.
The distressed farmer allegedly consumed pesticide at his home on Wednesday night. Family members rushed him to Kabisuryanagar hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. However, he succumbed during treatment.
The body will be handed over to his family after postmortem. While crop loss is suspected to have driven Malik to take the extreme step, the exact circumstances that led to the incident are yet to be ascertained.
It may be noted that 65-year-old farmer Arjun Panda of Bakilikana village under Dengapadar panchayat in Sheragada block had allegedly consumed pesticide on November 1 after losing his entire paddy and vegetable crops to floodwaters. He later died in the hospital.
Meanwhile, Ganjam unit of Odisha Krushak Sabha staged demonstration outside district collector’s office on Wednesday demanding adequate compensation and financial assistance for farmers who suffered extensive crop losses due to cyclone Arnab and the subsequent floods.
