Nagpur: Apparently frustrated after damage to the crop due to insufficient rains in the region, two more farmers from Vidarbha region of Maharashtra have allegedly committed suicide in last two days, taking the number of such deaths to over 15.

36 year-old farmer Ramchandra Premchandra Chavan from Pusad taluka of Yavatmal district allegedly hanged himself to death yesterday (July 13, 2004), according to reports reaching Nagpur today. With three acres land, Chavan had taken a bank loan of Rs 20,000 and Rs 7,000 from a co-operative society, but his soya crop was damaged due to inadequate rainfall.

Another farmer Gangadhar Namdeo Ambhure (27) from Narkhed taluka in rural Nagpur allegedly committed suicide by consuming insecticides to cut short his life two days ago, the reports said.

However, even as media reports mentioned about 14 farmers allegedly committing suicide in the region during past two months burdened with the heavy debts from co-operative banks and private lenders after scanty rains, there is no official confirmation for the same.

With two more farmers ending their life, the number of suicidal deaths by farmers in the Vidarbha region, which is facing drought-like situation, has gone to 16 now.