Farmer dies of shock in Bhilwara, others wait for compensation

JAIPUR: It was a tragic end for 30-year-old farmer Khem Singh who could not bear the pain and shock after unseasonal rain destroyed his standing crops. Singh died in the field itself on Sunday after suffering a heart attack.
According to police, Khem Singh and his brother Mahendra were both farmers in Mothi village of Bajnore area in Bhilwara district. The heavy downpour continued throughout on Saturday night and both of them went to their field in the morning to take stock of the situation.They found their entire wheat crops destroyed. They tried to flush out water from the field but Khem Singh failed to overcome the shock and collapsed. His brother tried to call people for help but all his efforts went in vain,” police said.
Meanwhile, farmers are knocking the doors of government and public representatives to press their demand for compensation as rain wreaked havoc in almost all parts of the state. They are also submitting memorandum to government officials for assistance. They are being assured of help by the officials. There are also reports of some agitated farmers blocking roads in different parts of the state.
Another farmer, Devaram Chaudhary of Barmer somehow managed to console himself after the loss but rests his hopes on local MLA for help. “My father had taken a loan of Rs 1.25 lakh for cultivation. Now, how he will pay it back when the crops are completely damaged,” Chaudhary said, who has cultivated zeera (cumin seed) and isabgol on his 26 bigha land.
The farmers met Gudamalini MLA Ladu Ram and apprised him about the crops damage and the losses.
“It is the time when crops of cumin seeds, isabgol, grams, wheat and mustard are ready to be harvested. But rain and hailstorms have created havoc and damaged the crops,” said Jesa Ram, a farmer in Jaisalmer.
Ram said cumin seeds will be blackened due to rain. Rajasthan is one of the largest producers of cumin. Also, last year, the farmers earned huge profit in isabgol cultivation. So they cultivated it in a large scale this year to make more profit, he added.