Farmer ends life in Odisha’s Sambalpur over loan burden

Sambalpur: A farmer of Khulia village under Maneswar block of Odisha’s Sambalpur district allegedly committed suicide over crop loss and loan burden.

Lalit Barik (60), the deceased farmer, consumed pesticide last night and was admitted to VIMSAR in Burla. However, he breathed his last this morning while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

According to reports, Barik had taken a loan of around Rs 17 lakh for agricultural purposes during the Kharif season. However, he suffered loss due to brown planthopper attack on crops.

Being under stress over repayment of the loan, the farmer took the extreme step by consuming pesticide, said Saroj Barik, the deceased’s son.