Young farmer dies by suicide after crop loss in Jammikunta

A 28-year-old farmer, Somalla Harish, from Nagampet in Jammikunta mandal died by suicide after his paddy and cotton crops were destroyed by recent rains. Distressed over mounting debt of Rs. 2.5 lakh, he consumed pesticide in his field.

Karimnagar: Upset over crop damage caused by the recent rains, a 28-year-old farmer, Somalla Harish, died by suicide in Nagampet of Jammikunta mandal.

Police said Harish left home on Saturday and consumed pesticides in his agricultural field, after which he informed his brother, Rakesh. Family members rushed him to a private hospital in Jammikunta, where he died while undergoing treatment on Sunday evening.

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Harish, who could not clear subjects in B.Tech, had been assisting his father, Sadaiah, in farming for the past four years. The family cultivated paddy on two acres of their own land and cotton on one acre taken on lease this season. Harish had borrowed Rs. 2.5 lakh for cultivation and was distressed after the entire crop was damaged due to rains.

Unable to repay the debt, he took the extreme step. Based on a complaint from his father, police have registered a case and begun an investigation.