Shocked by crop failure, two farmers die in farm in Erode
Meanwhile Thangavel, who went to his farm on Thursday evening, did not return home till night.
SALEM: At least two farmers died of cardiac arrest in Erode and Namakkal districts in the last 24 hours, depressed over seeing their crops withering out due to failure of monsoon.
Police said Thangavel, 65, a farmer from Olapalayam near Modakurichi was doing farming in two-and-a half acres of sugarcane field taken on lease for three years.
“He had purchased manure, seeds and paid labour charges by receiving money on credit. But due to severe drought, the sugarcane crops began to wither over the last two months. Thangavel appeared worried and kept telling others on his pitiable plight,” police said.
Meanwhile Thangavel, who went to his farm on Thursday evening, did not return home till night. The family members went in search and found him lying unconscious in the sugarcane field.
They immediately informed the ambulance and an examination by the medical staff revealed that Thangavel had already died of cardiac arrest. His wife Lakshmi, 53, and two sons Kathiresan and Devarajan survive him.
In another incident, Palanisamy, 54 from Nallappanaickenpatty near Paramathi in Namakkal district died at his farm on Friday morning upset over being unable to do agriculture due to lack of water.
He had taken a loan of Rs 1 lakh from a nationalised bank to do agriculture in his four acres of land. Members of the public told police that he died staring at his farmland, which had turned barren due to failed monsoon.