Withered crops claim lives of two more farmers in delta region

Anthonysamy, who went to the field around 7.30 am on Tuesday, did not return for a long time. Sensing something amiss, the farmer’s wife Philomina Mary along with family members went searching for him to the field, where they found him lying unconscious. Locals and the family members rushed him to the hospital where doctors declared him ‘dead on arrival’. The doctors told the family members that he had died of cardiac arrest. Family members said Anthonysamy had borrowed money for interest to raise samba. But he was in a depressed mood for a few days as the land turned dry and crops started withering.  The deceased Anthonysamy is survived by wife and four children, including three daughters. Meanwhile, another farmer Balasubramanian from Vedaranyam died of cardiac arrest while participating in the funeral of V Murugaiyan, another farmer, who committed suicide unable to see the withered crops. Sources said that Balasubramanian on seeing the body of Murugaiyan collapsed at the same spot. It may be noted that Murugaiyan (45) of Vedaranyam, who had taken the land of Balasubramanian, was depressed after seeing the withered crops. He committed suicide late evening on Monday by hanging himself in his house.