Debt-ridden farmer jumps before running train in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Baleswar, Nov 15:

Devastated by crop loss and loan burden, yet another farmer ended his life by jumping before a moving train in Baleswar district in Odisha today.

The deceased farmer was identified as Paramananda Ghadei of Nuagaon village under Soro police limits in the district.

He committed suicide by jumping before a running train this morning due to crop loss and loan burden. He was under severe stress as his crops were damaged due to deficient rainfall this Kharif season.

“He was under stress over bad crops. He had discussed about this three-four times with me. He had availed loans of over Rs One lakh from private lender and cooperative society. I had told him not to worry and had discussed to find ways to repay the loan. While I was asleep, my mother woke me up when she did not find my father at home. After some time, I went out in search of him and found his body near the railway tracks,” son of the deceased, Bijay Kumar Ghadei said.

The deceased had cultivated paddy on five acres of land for which he had availed loans. When he realised that he won’t be able to repay the loans as he suffered huge crop loss due to deficient rainfall, he took to the extreme step and ended his life.

“He had cultivated paddy on five acres of land. He was distressed over crop loss due to scanty rainfall. For this, he committed suicide,” a villager said.

The GRP recovered the body and sent it for post mortem. An unnatural death (u/d) case has been registered and investigation has begun into the incident.

It may be mentioned that three farmer suicide cases were reported yesterday in Kendrapara, Jharsuguda and Sonepur districts. The spate of alleged farmer suicides continues unabated in the state.