Nagpur: Despite the central government's unprecedented Rs.600 billion ($15 billion) loan waiver, farm suicides continue unabated in Vidarbha with as many as 20 of them reported from different districts of the region in the last 72 hours.

While the latest, of a 65-year-old farmer, was reported from village Kondala in eastern Vidarbha's Chandrapur district Saturday, 18 of the 20 suicides occurred in the region's western part, comprising Yavatmal, Amravati, Buldana, Akola and Washim districts.

The Kondala farmer, Rambhau Kale, who jumped in a well Friday midnight, had taken Rs.95,000 in loans from two banks - the district cooperative bank and land development bank, besides some amounts borrowed from relatives, his family sources said.

"Besides being worried about the loan, the old man was also depressed because of his ill health and mounting medical bills," Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) president Kishor Tiwari told IANS, quoting Rambhau's son Vitthal.

Returning from a private hospital in the sub-district headquarter of Warora Friday morning, Rambhau reportedly told his son that he would "die in debt".

Rambhau owned 10 acres of arid land and, therefore, was not eligible for the loan waiver, which is applicable only to farmers owning up to five acres.