Odisha farmer attempts suicide

A farmer has made an attempt to commit suicide by consuming pesticide, a day after similar effort by another cultivator of the same village in Odisha's Bargarh district, officials said on Saturday.

33-year-old Niranjan Bhoi was spotted in a critical condition in his farm land in Kanbar village under Barpali block on Friday.

He was rushed to the Barpali Community Health Centre (CHC) and later shifted to the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla. His condition is stated to be critical, they said.

On Thursday, another farmer of the same village had attempted suicide by consuming pesticide in front of the district collector's office, they said.

Bargarh District Collector Indramani Tripathy said "There are two suicide attempts by as many farmers. The district administration will undertake an enquiry as to why such attempts were made. We are taking steps to resolve problems of farmers hit by the recent squall." Bhoi's family members said his crops in five acres of land were destroyed due to unseasonal rain and hailstorm on April 30.

Akrura Bishi had made an attempt to commit suicide by consuming poison in front of the office of Bargarh collector on Thursday. He is under treatment at hospital, the officials said.