75 Farmers Die From Snakebite, Electrocution in 21 Months

LACK of precautionary measures and absence of programmes to create awareness among the farming community has led to a rise in the number of deaths of farmers during farming activities in Belagavi district.

- SUNIL PATIL @ Belagavi

About 75 farmers died from snakebite and electrocution in Belagavi district in the past 21 months.

Bent electric poles, low-hanging power cables and open transformers pose big threats to the lives of farmers who work in the fields. Despite many complaints, they are not repaired or replaced by Hubballi Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM). Incidents of electrocution and snakebite usually happen when farmers and farm labourers are busy in removing weeds, spraying pesticides on the taller crop, cultivating the land, harvesting the crop, switching on the pumpsets, chopping the grass for the cattle and cultivating the land, among other activities.