Farmer commits suicide in Kuttanad

Alappuzha, Apr 5 (UNI) Even as a Central team is touring Kerala to assess the crop losses in the summer rains, one more farmer allegedly committed suicide in the Kuttanad area in this district today.

Police said Chacko John (80) hanged himself in his house in Neelamperoor village this afternoon. He was reportedly depressed by the ''substantial losses'' suffered in his over two acre paddy land in the recent summer rains, police added.

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

This was the third farmer suicide in the Kuttanad in the past fortnight.

Meanwhile, heavy rains were continuing to lash the area, which was still facing a shortage of harvesting machines. Only 50 machines were available while at least 200 were needed, local farmers said.

A Central team, headed by A K Yadav, Joint Secretary in the Home Department, visited the Kuttanad area yesterday to assess agriculture loss in the recent summer rains and had reportedly stated that the losses in the area were ''substantial.'' UNI XR ARC LS KP2126