Bhubaneswar, Oct. 3: Congress and BJP activists today protested against the alleged suicide of a farmer in drought-prone Nuapada district in Odisha following crop loss and demanded compensation for his family members.

Jadumani Bag, a farmer in Lanka village under Boden block of Nuapada district, died yesterday. His family members claimed that Jadumani took pesticide following crop loss due to dry spell. 'He was very upset as he was unable to repay the Rs 30,000 loan he had availed for raising the crop,' said his widow Dulamani Bag.

Congress and BJP activists staged a road blockade in Boden block today demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation and a house under Indira Yojana for Jadumani's bereaved family members.

Odisha revenue and disaster management minister Maheswar Mohanty said: 'If a specific allegation is lodged, the district authorities will probe into the causes of the farmer's death.'

The spectre of drought looms large in Odisha since as many as 114 blocks out of total 314 blocks have been affected by scanty rainfall this year.

While 112 blocks have recorded minus 19 per cent to minus 59 per cent rainfall, two blocks (Odapada and Hatadihi) have received minus 59 per cent rainfall.

In another development, chief minister Naveen Patnaik today took stock of the crop loss situation across the state. The review revealed that the state has so far received 1028.3mm rainfall this monsoon as against the normal rainfall of 1144.3mm. The state recorded 10.1 per cent deficient rainfall on an average this year.

Nine out total 30 districts have recorded deficient rainfall, while twenty have received normal rainfall and one district excess rainfall.