Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Balasore, Mar 15:

Even as the Bargarh farmer suicide issue continued to rock the Odisha Assembly today, yet another farmer from the state’s Balasore district succumbed to his alleged suicide attempt at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack while undergoing treatment.

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The deceased farmer has been identified as Sudam Khatua of Pakharbada village under Balasore Sadar police limits.

Sudam had allegedly consumed poison yesterday in his field. He was rescued by his family members from the field in a critical condition and shifted to the district headquarters hospital here. As his condition further deteriorated, he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack where he breathed his last today while undergoing treatment.

“Sudam had taken hand loans to the tune of Rs 1.45 lakh from local money lenders at high interest rates to cultivate tomato and chilli on about three acres of land,” said Sankarsan Khatua, a relative of Sudam.

“His crops were badly damaged in the recent spell of unseasonal rains in the state and he had lost his mental balance after he was pestered by his lenders for repayment. Yesterday he took the extreme step and had consumed poison in his field. He was taken to the hospital here and was later shifted to Cuttack where he succumbed today,” Khatua added.