A 50-year-old tribal woman, Bhuriya Bai, died after spending two days and a freezing night in a fertiliser queue in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district. She had been waiting at a distribution centre in Bamori, hoping to get a fertiliser bag for her field, but the shortage and long queues forced her to spend hours in harsh conditions. Her health worsened during the cold night, and despite efforts to take her to a hospital, she could not be saved.

Her death has brought serious attention to the problems farmers are facing due to fertiliser shortages in the region. According to villagers, farmers have been standing in long queues from morning till late evening, often without any guarantee that fertiliser will be available. Many say they return empty-handed even after waiting the whole day, and sometimes they are forced to stay near the centres overnight in severe cold because fresh stock can arrive at any hour.

People in the area also allege that mismanagement at distribution centres has made the situation worse. In several places, including Bageri, farmers claim that fertiliser, which is officially priced at Rs 274 per bag, is being sold illegally for up to Rs 400. They say the shortage has allowed middlemen to take advantage, leaving genuine farmers helpless.

When Bhuriya Bai’s health deteriorated, villagers called for an ambulance, but they say it never reached the spot. Finally, a local farmer took her to the Bamori Health Centre in his own vehicle. As her condition worsened, she was shifted to the Guna district hospital, where she died during treatment.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the area after the incident and instructed officials to provide assistance to the woman’s family. However, he did not comment on the allegations of fertiliser shortage. Meanwhile, local reports and villagers continue to highlight long queues, mismanagement, and the desperate situation at multiple centres. The incident has sparked anger and raised concerns over the state’s fertiliser distribution system, as thousands of farmers still struggle daily to get essential supplies during the peak agricultural season.