Crop failure and agrarian losses due to the heatwave are known to cause farmer suicides in India. A 2017 study of the linkage between annual farmer suicides and climatic conditions by Tamma Carleton from Berkeley University found that in India, the rate of farmer suicides increased in the hottest months, as high temperatures brought on crop failures. The problem has been particularly acute in regions like Vidarbha, Maharashtra. This year, the heatwave even affected farmers in Punjab that is known for its agrarian bounty. “This is the first time Punjab has reported heatwave-driven suicides. The heatwave severely damaged the wheat harvest, and many farmers who depended on it chose to take their lives,” says Mansa-based agrarian activist Kiran Kaur. In 2016, Kaur’s father killed himself because he was unable to clear his debt following failure of his cotton crop. Kaur has since been working with families of farmer suicide victims in Punjab. “I wanted to understand what reasons can drive a person to end it all. In most of these cases, there is little understanding of why they do it,” she adds. Kaur says while heatwave-driven farmer suicides may soon become common in India, the authorities are yet to recognise the problem. “The NCIB (National Crime Investigation Bureau) stopped recording farmer suicide data. There is no real data or introspection as to why these suicides happen. Many times, these are not even recorded as suicide,” Kaur tells Outlook.