In a tragic incident that underscores the severe distress among farmers in Madhya Pradesh, a 45-year-old cultivator, Kailash Meena, allegedly died by suicide after his standing paddy crop was destroyed by unseasonal rains in Sheopur district. Continuous downpours, triggered by multiple weather systems including Cyclone Montha, have damaged vast stretches of farmland across 11 districts, leaving farmers in despair.

According to his family, Kailash had cultivated paddy over nearly nine bighas of land, investing heavily in seeds, fertiliser, and labour. Days of torrential rain had submerged his fields, turning the crop into waste and wiping out his savings. Distressed and unable to bear the financial loss, he left for his farm on Wednesday morning and did not return. His body was later discovered by villagers and taken to the district hospital, where doctors confirmed his death.

The news of Kailash’s death triggered widespread anger among local residents, who blocked a major road and staged a nearly 12-hour protest, demanding immediate compensation and relief for affected farmers. The agitation began late Wednesday night and continued until Sheopur Collector Arpit Verma reached the scene. He announced interim aid and financial assistance of ₹2 lakh to the bereaved family, along with measures such as a proposal for ₹15 lakh compensation, a job for the farmer’s daughter, and waivers for his electricity bill and Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan.

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Former BJP district president Surendra Jat also appealed for calm, assuring farmers that compensation for crop damage would be processed after a formal survey. Meanwhile, district authorities began assessing the extent of agricultural losses across the region as heavy rainfall persisted into the following day.

Meteorological officials attributed the continuous rain to a combination of weather systems—an active cyclonic circulation over northern India, a depression over the Arabian Sea, and a trough line crossing Madhya Pradesh—all intensified by Cyclone Montha. For many in rural Sheopur, though, the science offers little solace. Kailash Meena’s death now stands as a stark reminder of how unpredictable weather, mounting debt, and inadequate crop protection drive countless Indian farmers to the edge of desperation each year.

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