Aurangabad: As many as 564 distressed farmers from the backward Marathwada region allegedly committed suicide between January 1 and August 26, sources from Divisional Commissioner's office said on Tuesday.
The highest of 131 farmers' suicides were reported in drought-prone Beed district while the lowest of 24 took place in the Hingoli district.
Eighty-one cases each were reported in Aurangabad and Osmanabad,74-- in Nanded, 65-- in Jalna, 58 cases in Latur and 50 in Parbhani.
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Of the 564 farmers who had committed suicides, 415 were found eligible for compensation following which Rs 410 lakhs was paid to the kin of as many victims by the respective district administration. Claims in 103 cases were rejected following an official inquiry by the respective district administrations and the remaining 46 cases are still pending for inquiry, the report added.
The region has been reeling under scarcity-like conditions due to scanty rainfall resulting in infertility issues for the last couple of years with mounting debts forcing the farmers to take extreme steps.
The region is still a rain deficit receiving only 63 percent of expected and 40 percent of annul rainfall till date leaving a number of water resources empty in the region.