Hyderabad: Trees cut, farmhands die of heat

ADILABAD: Cutting down of trees that give shade in the agriculture fields is killing farmers and farm labourers by the dozens. Faced with extreme heat and lack of protective mechanisms  in the fields, seven of them died of sunstroke in the last 15 days in Adilabad district  alone.

Farm workers now and then used to stop work and take rest under the shades of tamarind, mango, and neem trees. That helped them cool their body from high temperature.

However, with much of such trees cut, the farmhands are forced to work without a shade. The streams and rivulets that existed near agriculture fields have also vanished. These had kept some of the agricultural area cool.

Convener of the district Athma Hatyala Nivarana committee Sangepu Borranna said as many as 12 NREGS labourers and seven farmers died of sunstroke in the last 15 days.