Bargarh: There is no let-up in farmer suicides in this district as yet another peasant ended his life by consuming pesticide allegedly due to crop loss at Karla village under Ambabhona block Sunday.
Arjun Satnami (65) took the extreme step after he suffered crop loss due to drought and pest attack on his crop, his son Ramprasad Satnami claimed.
A case of unnatural death was registered in Ambabhona police station and the body was handed over to the family after post-mortem.
Sources said Arjun had carried out paddy cultivation in his two acre land and three acre lease land during the last Kharif season.
He had borrowed Rs 60,000 from Lakhanpur Services Cooperative Society and Rs 30,000 from local moneylenders to raise the crop.
However, drought and pest attack destroyed his crops. “The crop loss pushed my father into distress,” Ramprasad said.
He consumed pesticide outside home and managed to reach home in critical condition Saturday evening. His condition deteriorated after family members failed to arrange a vehicle to rush him to a hospital the same night.
They admitted him to the district headquarters hospital Sunday morning but by then it was too late.
Arjun’s death has dealt a heavy blow to his family as he was its sole breadwinner. The deceased is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
His wife Alekhmati Satnami now awaits financial assistance from the state government.
When contacted, Ambabhona tehsildar Sahadev Samadhia said he visited the bereaved family but failed to meet them as none of them were found in their house.
He, however, assured to visit them Monday and provide financial assistance from the District Red Cross Fund.
Samadhia said a probe is on and the actual reason behind his death could be ascertained after the availability of post-mortem report.
According to reports, 17 farmers have committed suicide so far this year in Bargarh district. PNN
