'Debt-ridden' woman farmer ends life in Odisha

Nabarangpur: Farmer suicides continue unabated as a woman farmer allegedly took her life in Aunlima village under Tentulikhunti block of Nabaranagpur district today following crop loss due to heavy rain.

The deceased, identified as Padmabati Muduli had consumed poison on Friday night and succumbed while undergoing treatment at a hospital today.

Family members of the deceased woman farmer said she was under mental stress due to loan burden.

According to family members, she had taken Rs 3 lakh loan from a private financial company for paddy cultivation in her two acres of land.

"But due to crop loss she was unable to arrange the money to repay the loan. Staff of the private financial company used to threaten her with locking up her house is she fails to repay the loan. Last night while her husband was sleeping in another room, she consumed poison. She was rushed to a hospital, but she died today," informed family sources.

Last month, farmer suicides over crop loss and loan burden were reported in Sambalpur and Bolangir districts.