Farmers' suicides continued unabated in the State with two more peasants reportedly ending their lives in Balangir and Angul districts, respectively, on Monday.
According to reports, Basudev Bhoi of Ghusuramuda village under Budhipadar gram panchayat in Balangir district consumed pesticide on Thursday last and died on Monday while undergoing treatment at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VSSIMR), Burla.
Basudev had borrowed loan for paddy cultivation. But his crops were damaged due to scanty rainfall. Under mental agony for crop loss and loan burden, he consumed pesticides.
Following his death, irate villagers staged a roadblock on the National Highway in the evening, demanding compensation to his family members.
In the other incident, farmer Sudam Biswal of Dabarmuhan in the Sana Kerajanga area of Angul district committed suicide by consuming poison.
Family sources said Sudam had borrowed huge amounts of loans from private money-lenders to grow cauliflower and cabbage. But his farming was wholly destroyed due to want of water. He consumed poison on Sunday and died while undergoing treatment at the SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack, said family sources.