A Rajasthan farmer’s attempt to protect his savings from thieves has ended in a heartbreaking situation.
Mangilal Meghwal, a 50-year-old farmer from Newai village in Balotra, reportedly buried ₹5 lakh in his agricultural field after selling a piece of land. Nearly a year later, the money was found—but the cash had been badly damaged by termites.
Why Did The Farmer Bury ₹5 Lakh?
Mangilal had reportedly sold a piece of his agricultural land around a year ago to collect money for building a house.
After receiving ₹5 lakh from the sale, he became worried that keeping such a large amount of cash at home could make it vulnerable to theft.
सुरक्षित रखने के लिए किसान मांगीलाल मेघवाल ने 5 लाख रुपए खेत में गाड़ दिए. कुछ समय बाद उसे पैसों की ज़रूरत पड़ी लेकिन तब तक वो जगह भूल गया था कि उसने पैसे कहां छुपाये. तब उसने अपने बेटों को ये बात बताई. उसके परिवार ने 10 बीघे के उस खेत की जगह जगह खुदाई की. लेकिन पैसे नहीं मिले.… pic.twitter.com/Sxu47QvLWh
— Ruby Arun रूबी अरुण (@arunruby08) August 9, 2026
Instead of depositing the money in a bank, he placed the cash inside a bag and buried it somewhere in his agricultural field.
He apparently believed that keeping the money underground would be safer.
He Later Forgot Where He Hid The Money
The situation became more complicated when Mangilal returned to collect the cash about a month later.
According to the report, he could not remember the exact location where he had buried the bag.
Despite searching the field several times, he was unable to find his savings.
The money remained buried underground for almost a year.
Family Finally Finds The Buried Bag
The cash was eventually discovered on August 7.
Mangilal’s wife and son had gone to the field to repair fencing while agricultural work was also taking place there.
During the work, they came across the buried bag.
But what should have been a moment of relief quickly turned into disappointment.
Termites Destroyed The ₹5 Lakh
When the family opened the bag, they reportedly found that the currency notes had been severely damaged.
Termites had eaten through the notes during the long period they remained underground, leaving much of the cash torn into pieces.
The farmer then approached a bank hoping that the damaged currency could be exchanged.
However, the bank reportedly refused to accept the notes because of their condition.
He later approached the bank’s main branch but reportedly received a similar response and was advised to contact the headquarters in Jaipur.
Internet Asks Bank To Help The Farmer
The incident has sparked reactions online, with several people urging authorities to help the farmer recover at least some of his savings.
Some social media users suggested that the family should approach senior bank officials or the Reserve Bank of India if portions of the notes remain identifiable.
One user appealed to the RBI to help replace the farmer’s damaged money.
Others, however, questioned the condition of the notes shown in the reports and pointed out that not every damaged note is necessarily treated in the same way by banks.
What Could Happen To The Damaged Notes?
The farmer’s next step is reportedly to approach the relevant authorities in Jaipur regarding the damaged currency.
The possibility of exchanging damaged notes depends on the condition of the currency and the applicable rules.
For the family, however, the ₹5 lakh represents much more than just cash—it was money saved from the sale of agricultural land and intended for building a home.
A Costly Lesson About Keeping Cash At Home
The incident has also started a wider conversation about storing large amounts of cash outside the banking system.
Mangilal had reportedly buried the money because he feared theft, but the decision created a completely different problem.
After almost a year underground, termites destroyed a significant portion of the savings.
Conclusion
What began as an attempt to protect ₹5 lakh from thieves ended with the farmer discovering his savings badly damaged by termites.
The family is now hoping that the damaged currency can be examined and that they may be able to recover at least some of the money.
The unusual incident has also left many people online asking whether authorities can step in and help the farmer.
FAQs
Why did the Rajasthan farmer bury ₹5 lakh?
He reportedly buried the money in his agricultural field because he feared that the cash could be stolen.
How long was the money underground?
The bag reportedly remained buried for nearly a year.
How was the money damaged?
The currency notes were reportedly badly damaged by termites.
Where was the money found?
The farmer’s wife and son reportedly found the bag while working on fencing in the agricultural field.
What did the bank reportedly tell the farmer?
The bank reportedly refused to accept the severely damaged notes and advised him to approach its headquarters in Jaipur.