Guj farmer kills self fearing crop loss due to weak monsoon

A farmer Monday allegedly committed suicide apparently fearing loss of his crop due to a weak monsoon in Gujarat, police said.

Anak Jebalia (35) allegedly consumed poison at his house in Vavdi village in Dahri taluka of Amreli district, about 250 kilometres from here, and died on the way to hospital, said sub-inspector Bharat Borisagar of Chalala police station.

His relatives have told police that Jebalia, who owns a small plot of land, was fearing for his crop following a weak monsoon as he had incurred losses last year as well, an official said.

Borisagar said that police had registered a case of unnatural death and further probe into the incident was underway.

A state government release Thursday had informed that Gujarat was staring at water scarcity as it had received just 73.87 per cent of rainfall this monsoon.

The release had added Kutch had received just 26.51 per cent of average rainfall so far, while north Gujarat got 42.93 per cent, central Gujarat 66.83 per cent, Saurashtra 72.20 per cent and south Gujarat got the highest of 94.79 per cent.