Two more farmers committed suicide of farmers in Marathwada region, taking the figure of distressed peasants taking the extreme step to 13 in a week, after freak hailstorms and rains hit winter crops.
A 45-year-old farmer from Parbhani district committed suicide by jumping into Dudhna river and another farmer took his own life in Beed district.
Suicide cases are on the rise after unseasonal rains and hailstorm damaged crops in thousands of hectares in all eight districts of Marathwada region.
The police said Narayan Kale from Nandgaon Budruk jumped into the river and ended his life after he felt he would be unable to repay a loan of Rs 25,000. The police, however, registered a case of accidental death.
Earlier in the week, 11 farmers from Aurangabad, Beed, Osmanabad and Hingoli committed suicide, either by setting themselves ablaze, consuming poison or jumping into wells.
They include Bhima Sopan Godbole (47) from Hingoli, Vibishan Srikrushna Tapase (23) from Chandansavargaon, Dadarao Bhagaji Daud (40), a resident of Panvadod village, Digambar Gangaram Raut (62) from Nandar village, Rajabhau Haribhau Lomte (34), Anil Kulkarni (46) of Osmanabad, Bhagwat Trimbak Mane (41) of Shirur village, Yadav Champati Patange (61) of Hadgaon and Santuka Kabhaji Goralae (43), of the same village in Nanded district.
