In a shocking incident, Chervapur Yellaiah (60), a farmer of Achamayupalli village in Dubbak mandal, collapsed and died of cardiac arrest while standing in the queue to collect urea at the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society’s (PACS) office counter in Dubbak town. The incident happened around 8.30 a.m. on Thursday.
According to sources, Yellaiah, along with other farmers, had arrived from his village to collect urea for his farm land. He had reportedly come here on Tuesday and Wednesday also and had returned empty-handed. After waiting for about an hour in the queue on Thursday, Yellaiah collapsed. Fellow farmers shifted him to the government hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Yellaiah is survived by wife and four daughters. Marriage of one of the daughters, who is differently abled, is yet to be performed. He owned two acres of land, and had taken two more on lease and cultivated cotton, maize and paddy. He came to collect the urea on his own as there was no one to assist him. Dubbak MLA S. Ramalinga Reddy rushed to Yellaiah’s house and consoled the family. He extended an immediate financial assistance of ₹ 1.2 lakh and promised to extend further assistance. “There is no shortage of urea and sufficient quantity is being supplied to farmers,” said the MLA. Leaders of other parties too visited Yellaiah’s house.
Officials said there was no shortage of fertilizers but, with some farmers hoarding it, problem was being faced.
Police said they had no information whether Yellaiah had come to Dubbak town for the last two days. But they confirmed that by the time they reached PACS office, fellow farmers had shifted him to the hospital.
Meanwhile, farmers held a rasta roko and dharna at Shivampet mandal headquarters in Medak district, demanding supply of urea. Traffic came to a halt for some time and the police intervened and pacified the agitating farmers. Farmers had held a dharna on Wednesday as well.
According to sources, farmers at several places in the erstwhile Medak district were seen standing in long queues for urea.
“Despite claims by officials, there is a shortage of urea. Officials allotting only two bags for each farmer is an indication of shortage,” said Mr. Ramachandraiah, a farmer from Jogipet.