Farmer in Odisha allegedly ends life amidst crop damage from unseasonal rains

Bhubaneswar, Jan 4: In Odisha, unseasonal rains last month caused severe crop damage, leading to the alleged suicide of yet another farmer. Kailash Chandra Dhal reportedly consumed poison in Koladiha village, located in Kendrapada district, on Friday night.

Dhal’s death marks the tenth farmer fatality in the state in just ten days due to the significant losses incurred from the unseasonal rains that affected various regions in December.

Family members shared that Dhal had cultivated paddy on eight acres, but his crops were severely impacted by the unexpected weather. They attributed his tragic decision to increasing financial stress, as he had taken out a loan of approximately ₹2.5 to ₹3 lakh and was anxious about how he would repay it after losing his harvest.

His son, Kumarsen, revealed that his father had been deeply depressed for the past ten days and, despite the family’s attempts to support him, succumbed to the overwhelming debt pressure.

This incident highlights the concerning situation in Odisha, where numerous farmers have either taken their own lives or died from shock due to crop losses caused by relentless and unseasonal rainfall that began on December 19. Prior to Dhal's death, nine other farmers, including two from Nayagarh district's Ranpur area, had already lost their lives due to similar circumstances.