Anticipating farm loans to be waived in the State Budget which did not materialise, in separate incidents two farmers in the district allegedly committed suicide yesterday possibly out of sheer despair.

Cheluvegowda (68) of Natanahalli in K.R. Pet taluk allegedly set himself ablaze by jumping into fire while Prakash (30) of   T. Malligere in Mandya taluk hung himself.

Cheluvegowda was in possession of about 3.5 acre of land and was said to have taken a loan of Rs.1 lakh from PLD Bank and several lakhs from   money lenders.

However, severe drought had shattered his plans and he was expecting the farm loan to be waived in the Budget that was presented yesterday by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah.

When it did not happen, Chaluvegowda allegedly set fire to the hedge around the land and jumped into the fire.

His wife Parvathamma has lodged a complaint with K.R. Pet Rural Police Station.

On receiving information, the Police summoned fire-fighting personnel and got the fire extinguished. The charred body of the deceased was sent to mortuary of a local hospital.

In the other incident, farmer Prakash committed suicide by hanging from a tree in his agricultural land. He too had about 3 acre of land and the borewell too had dried.

He was believed to have taken a loan of Rs. 5 lakh from various Banks. His hopes were shattered while watching the Budget presentation on TV and   took the extreme step.

Shivalli Police have registered the case.