Two farmers commit suicide after hailstorm destroys crops

Two farmers committed suicide in Jalgaon district on Saturday after their standing crops were destroyed due to the unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm in the state earlier this month.
While one farmer committed suicide along with his wife by jumping into a well, another farmer hanged himself to death.
An estimated 13 lakh hectares of agricultural land has been affected leading to a loss of 4,000 crore in Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said that financial help is being provided to the affected farmers. He added that the state government has sought Election Commission’s permission to provide compensation package for the affected farmers.
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had also said that EC’s permission will be sought to give financial assistance to affected farmers in Maharashtra after unseasonal rains and hailstorm damaged crops in the region.
The Union Minister had further said that there was a precedent to this effect to offer such aid, even though the model code of conduct was in force for the coming Lok Sabha elections.