Distressed Mathura farmers end lives over unseasonal rains, hailstorm

Hari Kishan, 35, of Madora village in Mathura district, sprinkled kerosene and set himself afire late Saturday, a police officer said. He succumbed to burn injuries at a hospital on Sunday.

Khajan Singh, 50, of the same area, consumed poison, he added.

Family members said the farmers were under extreme pressure from money lenders. Extensive damage to the crops due to hailstorm and rain had devastated them.

Help from the government did not reach them as formalities were yet to be completed, they added.