At least three more distressed farmers committed suicide in Odisha during the past 24 hours. Two of them died at the SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack, while undergoing treatment on Monday.
Hospital sources said Shankar Behera (45) of Athagarh in Cuttack district died in the evening while laxmidhar Bhatta (48) of Nayagarh district had died earlier in the say. Both were undergoing treatment after consuming pesticides. Reports reaching here said a farmer, Thikadar Sahu, of Bargarh district also died at the Burla hospital on Monday. He had taken pesticide on October 29.
Behera of Mahalaxmipur of Athagarh sub-division had taken a total loan of Rs 1 lakh. Distressed over the damage to his crops due to drought, he consumed poison in his fields in morning and was immediately taken to a local hospital. When his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to the SCB Hospital.
Bhatta of Ranpur block in Nayagarh district passing through similar ordeal had consumed pesticide on October 28. After an initial treatment at a local hospital for two days, he was discharged. But he was rushed to the SCB Hospitalon Sunday evening after he developed complicacies. He died on Monday morning.
With these deaths, the number of farmers committing suicide in the State during the past two months has reached nearly 50. Reports suggest that many farmers are still battling with death at several hospitals after taking poison.
While it has been clearly established that the troubled farmers are committing suicide due to massive crop loss and heavy loan burden, the State Government is still in a denial mode. In another incident, another peasant attempted suicide by drinking pesticide in front of the Dhenkanal Collectorate on Monday. He was identified as Asish Mallik of Gunthikateni under Bhuban block in the district.