Drought-hit farmers die hooking wires to mains for irrigation

At least 29 farmers died across Madhesh in a year while using illegal electricity to water their parched paddy fields.

At a time when the paddy fields in the Madhesh plains should be lush green, many lie parched. The region is grappling with an acute shortage of rainfall this monsoon, forcing desperate farmers to take matters into their own hands—often to tragic consequences.