Fatehabad: A farmer sitting on a dharna in front of the local mini-secretariat against the acquisition of his land for the proposed nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur village was taken seriously ill due to the severe cold conditions last night. The farmer, Parkash Siwach (66), was sleeping under the tent set up by the agitators outside the mini-secretariat last night, when he complained of severe pain in the chest. He was rushed to the General Hospital, from where he was sent home after giving him medicines this morning. He was again rushed to a local physician, who later referred him to Hisar looking in at his condition. The physician, Dr Viney Singla, said the patient had the history of a heart attack in the past and his present condition indicated that the pain was related to a heart problem, which might have worsened due to the cold. The farmers agitating against acquisition of their lands against the Gorakhpur Atomic Power Plant have been sitting on a dharna outside the mini-secretariat for the past 499 days now. The farmers have been braving hostile weather and have been sleeping under a tent in these chilly nights. Three farmers – Bhagi Ram, Ram Kumar and Ishwar Siwach – have so far lost their lives during the agitation. Bhagi Ram had died due to cold on the eve of New Year last year and the farmers had blocked the National Highway, placing his body on the road. Later, the farmers had also refused to cremate Ishwar Siwach’s body for three days in September this year, before a Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan persuaded them to relent. The worsening of Parkash Siwach’s condition has caused fresh worries for the authorities, as any eventuality could escalate the farmers’ agitation.