BHEDEN (BARGARH):The Western Odisha district of Bargarh was not spared of farmer suicides during the ongoing rabi crop season either.
The first death of the season was reported from Pradhantikra village near Kubedega under Bheden block of the district on Sunday.
Kiran Pradhan (24) of the village committed suicide by consuming pesticide following crop loss and loan burden. His crops failed due to Nor’wester.
Sources said Pradhan left home on Sunday morning and consumed pesticide near his farm land where he was found lying in a critical condition. Although villagers rushed him to Bheden Community Health Centre (CHC) and later to Bargarh District Headquarters Hospital, he succumbed.
Villagers said Pradhan owned one acre of land and had taken six acres of land on lease and had cultivated paddy over it. Since it is an irrigated belt, he was hoping for a bumper crop. Just when his crop was in flowering stage, Nor’wester hit the area in mid-March destroying Pradhan’s crop.
Already deep in debt, the sight of the damaged crop left him devastated, forcing him to take the extreme step, said villagers. His brother Bablu said Kiran had availed private loan for cultivation and was under mental stress due to crop loss. Bheden Tehsildar Arati Pradhan said she would visit the family and ascertain the reasons behind the death.