2 farmers die of ‘shock’ in Odisha due to crop damage in unseasonal rains

The crop loss caused by the recent unseasonal rains continues to play havoc with the farmer community. In the latest two incidents, while one farmer allegedly committed suicide in Ganjam district, the second one allegedly suffered a heart attack seeing his damaged crops in Kendrapara district. 

In the first case, a farmer of Badamadhapur Barang village under Chhatrapur block in Ganjam district had grown crops on five acres of land. For this, he had taken Rs 2 lakhs loan. Seeing the crop loss caused by the unseasonal rains, he reportedly couldn’t come to terms with it and took an extreme step.  

When asked, Chhatrapur Tehsildar said, “An enquiry is underway. The Sub-Collector has said that proper compensation and financial assistance from the Red Cross fund would be provided to the bereaved family.” 

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The second incident was reported from Santhapura village under Derabish block in Kendrapara district. 

As per reports, Bhabagrahi Mallik, a resident of Santhapura village, had grown crops on seven acres of land investing lakhs of rupees. On Thursday, he went to his farmland to see the conditions of his paddy crops. He reportedly saw the crops lying in the water. 

Returning home, Mallik complained of feeling uneasy and then chest pain. Family members immediately shifted him to the hospital in an auto-rickshaw.  However, he breathed his last on the way. At the hospital, the doctor pronounced him received dead.

“He went to his paddy field in the morning. Returning home, he complained of chest pain. He was rushed to hospital where the doctor told he had suffered a heart attack. I think he had suffered a heart attack seeing his damaged crops,” said Binod Mallik, the deceased farmer’s brother, in a choked voice.  

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The deceased farmer’s sister sobbed out, “The unseasonal rain has destroyed my brother’s family. Seeing water standing in his farmland, he suffered a heart attack. Returning from paddy field, he started complaining of chest pain.”

“My father went to our paddy field where our harvested paddy crops were lying in water. When he returned home, he started complaining of chest pain. On the way to the hospital, he succumbed. The doctor asked us to take him back. He had taken some loans in my mother’s name to raise crops,” narrated the deceased farmer’s daughter with tears welling up her eyes.

“Our main concern is the harvested paddy lying in the farmland. The Tehsildar and the agriculture officer will visit the affected areas and take stock of the situation in the presence of farmers and village community members. After verification, they will submit a report which will be submitted to the SRC,” said Nilu Mahapatra, Additional District Magistrate, Kendrapara.