Rajhmundary, December 26: Unable to digest the severe crop loss due to untimely rains and cyclones, several tenant farmers died of heart attack in East Godavari district. Some others committed suicide following pressure from moneylenders for repayment of debts. Six debt-ridden farmers died of heart attack in a single day yesterday, taking the death roll to 31.
The victims included Pati Arjuna Rao (35) of Vadaparru village in Uppalaguptam mandal, Koppula Raghava (55) of Somavaram village in Kirlampudi mandal, Rongali Manikyam (54) of Sitaramapuram village and K Lingamma of Kimmalagadda village in Rajavommangi mandal, Vemagiri Simhachalam (54) of Madhavapuram village and Mandapaka Konda Rao (65) of Pithapuram mandal and Desineedi Venkaiah Naidu (30) in Ramarajulanka village in Malikipuram mandal.
However, district revenue officer S Venkat Rao put the number of deaths at 24. Eight of them committed suicide and the remaining 16 rain-hit farmers died of heart attack, he said.
Paddy crop was cultivated in 2.35 lakh hectares in the district in kharif season. Standing crop in 1.35 lakh hectares was damaged due to untimely rains and cyclones in October, November and December.
—Agencies