Chittoor: In a bizarre incident, a farmer of the Kandriga village in Andhra Pradesh committed suicide out of fear of being infected by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

According to reports, Balakrishna, the farmer was unwell and had gotten admitted to the Ruia Hospital in Tirupati. The medical reports suggested that he had a fever, for which, the doctors treated him for two days and discharged him.

As per family sources, after being discharged from the hospital, Balakrishna would ask his family not come near him as he was infected by the deadly coronavirus. It is reported that he even threw stones at his kin and locked himself in a room.

When everyone had slept, on Sunday, February 9 midnight, Balakrishna committed suicide in his farmland by hanging himself from a tree.

In the morning, when his family members noticed that he was missing, they went in search of him and found his body.

The family informed the police about the incident. The police assessed the situation and registered a case. An investigation is underway to find out the truth behind the death.

According to a TOI report, Balakrishna’s son had called up toll-free numbers of the state government, seeking counseling sessions. His son said that no one had responded aptly and in time.

He has now requested the government to create awareness about coronavirus and see to it that others don’t end their lives like his father did.

Balakrishna is survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons.

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