As many as 685 farmers have committed suicide this year till August 31 in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, according to an official report, with the highest deaths at 186 reported from Beed, the home district of state agriculture minister Dhananjay Munde.

The arid region in central Maharashtra consists of eight districts — Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Nanded, Osmanabad, Hingoli and Latur.

According to a report of the divisional commissioner’s office here, 685 cultivators have ended their lives between January 1 and August 31, in the region and 294 of these deaths took place in three monsoon months alone (June to August).

Marathwada is currently facing 20.7 per cent rainfall deficit. The region has so far received 455.4mm of rainfall (till September 11) against 574.4mm of average monsoon showers during the period under review, an official said.

PTI