Rajasthan Farmer Loses Nearly ₹5 Lakh After Termites Destroy Buried Cash

In an unusual incident that has reportedly gone viral on social media, a farmer from Rajasthan's Balotra district is said to have lost nearly ₹5 lakh after cash he had buried in his agricultural field was severely damaged by termites.

According to reports, farmer Mangilal Meghwal had received around ₹5 lakh after selling a plot of land nearly a year ago. He reportedly planned to use the money to build a small house on his farmland.

Instead of keeping the cash at home, Mangilal allegedly decided to hide it in his field, fearing theft or unnecessary spending. He reportedly packed the money, mostly in ₹500 notes, inside a polythene bag and buried it at night without informing other family members.

However, when he later needed the money, he was reportedly unable to remember the exact location where it had been buried. After searching for several days without success, he informed his family, who joined the search across their nearly 10-bigha agricultural field.

The cash was eventually discovered following recent rainfall, while the family was preparing the field for cultivation. A tractor reportedly unearthed the polythene bag. When the family opened it, they found the currency notes severely damaged, reportedly due to termites.

A video showing the damaged currency has circulated on social media, drawing attention to the unusual incident and prompting discussions about the risks of storing large amounts of cash outside secure financial institutions.

The farmer is reportedly hoping that the damaged notes can be exchanged through the appropriate banking authorities. However, whether and how the notes can be exchanged will depend on their condition and the applicable Reserve Bank of India rules.

The incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in keeping large amounts of cash in unsecured locations and the importance of using secure banking facilities for storing substantial savings.