Aurangabad, Maharashtra: Altogether 264 panic-stricken and distressed farmers have committed suicides in past 98 days in eight districts of Marathawada region.

According to the latest update report from January 1, 2018 to April 8, 2018 released by the Divisional Commissioner office, at least 264 farmers in eight districts have committed suicides by different means.

Primary causes of suicides seem mounting debt, no adequate return to their farm products, infertility, cotton crop affected by pink bollworm pest, hailstorm rains and among other reasons, they said.

The highest numbers of 48 suicides were reported from drought-prone Beed district followed by 42 from Aurangabad, 37 from Osmanabad, 35 suicides from Parbhani, 29 from Jalna district, 26 each from Nanded and Latur and 21 from Hingoli district.

Out of 264 suicides ,115 suicides cases have been found applicable for compensation and 56 cases were rejected in inquiry by the authority while inquiry in 93 cases was still pending, the reports added.

Despite the state government implementing loan waiver schemes and other measures in the state, ratio of farmers committing suicides is continuously going up day by day.