At least three farmers have committed suicide within a week due to loan burden and crop loss following scanty rainfall in Dhenkanal district.
While one Baidhar Pradhan of Sankulei ended his life by consuming pesticide on October 26, another Bhramar Naik of Ghatipiri village under Odapada block took the extreme step by consuming poison as his crops has been completely damaged due to insufficient rains.
In the most recent incidence, debt-ridden tribal farmer Balka Purty of Marabil village under Kankadahad gram panchayat committed suicide on November 2 night. Having failed to repay loans that he had taken from a private money lender for cultivation in one hectare land, Purty committed suicide out of frustration by hanging himself.