3 farmers die during treatment at MKCG

Berhampur: Three farmers, two from Ganjam district and one from Rayagada district, died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here on Saturday. They had consumed poison over alleged crop loss and debt burden.
The deceased were identified as G Ghanashyam Dora, 45, of Chadheyapada under Beguniapada block and Prasanna Sahu, 35, of Pudugeswarapalli near Aska in Ganjam district and Ramdas Khalda, 19, of Kosinga in Rayagada district.
Sahu and Dora were admitted to MKCG on December 13 and 15 respectively. They were sharecroppers. Khalda, who cultivated crop on his four acres, had been undergoing treatment at the hospital since Friday. "My husband had taken loans from moneylenders. He suffered crop loss and might have committed suicide to avoid being harassed by the moneylenders," said G Laxmi, wife of Ghanashyam.
Deputy director of agriculture, Ganjam, Sudarshan Mohanty said revenue and agriculture officials will conduct a joint inquiry into the deaths. "They will visit the villages on Sunday," he added.