Santosh Shelke a 44-year-old pomegranate farmer from Malhan village in Sinnar tehsil gave up his life as he was unable to pay a loan of ₹75,000 owing to severe drought and multiple failed crops. Shelke is survived by his 35-year-old widow, Jayashree, and two sons – Pranav, 18, and Tejesh, 14. According to the family, a large portion of Shelke’s loan amount was used to purchase water for consecutive crops, in final attempts to save each crop cycle from the heat.