Distressed by Crop Loss, Farmer Ends Life in Balangir District

Balangir: Distressed over crop loss due to pest attack, a farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison in Odisha’s Balangir district on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Ramesh Bhoi of Bubel village under Puintala police station limits. He breathed his last during treatment at the Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital (BBMCH) in Balangir.

Bhoi had reportedly taken loans to cultivate paddy on 10 acre land this season. But he allegedly suffered heavy crop loss due to pest attack. Around half of his paddy crop was damaged by pests.

It is believed that stressed by the debt burden because of the crop loss, he consumed poison while working in the field on Tuesday. He was rushed to BBMCH, where he died on Wednesday.