Cyclone Montha batters Telangana, disrupts harvest and procurement activities

Cyclone Montha has brought heavy rains to Telangana’s eastern districts, disrupting paddy and cotton harvests and halting procurement operations. Red alerts were issued for four districts as officials stepped up disaster preparedness and urged farmers to protect their produce

Hyderabad: Cyclone Montha, unleashing heavy rains across the eastern districts of the State, has severely impacted harvest activities apart from hitting paddy and cotton procurement operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall in the four districts of Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mahabubabad. Orange alerts have been sounded for five additional districts including Khammam, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Peddapalli, Mancherial and Kumram Bheem Asifabad.

Administration in other neighbouring districts is also on high alert. Besides widespread disruptions to daily life and trade, districts that have already experienced excess rainfall and untimely downpours are bracing for nature’s fury. The administration, particularly the Irrigation Department and revenue personnel, has been placed on high alert, while National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams remain on standby.

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Farmers preparing to harvest paddy and cotton are receiving essential precautionary guidance from agriculture officials to protect their crops. In certain areas, particularly Makthal and Moosapet mandals of erstwhile Mahabubnagar district, untimely rains have already wreaked havoc on cotton and maize crops three days ago. In Addakula mandal, paddy stocks were drenched due to heavy rains at harvest centres and market yards.

The cyclone’s effects are feared to cause further damage, with cotton crops likely to bear the brunt. Although arrivals of produce have continued to gain momentum, purchases remain subdued due to moisture-related issues. In Suryapet district, Collector Tejas Nandlal Pawar and his team reached out to farmers in Arvapalli, Timmapur and Velpucherla areas, advising paddy and cotton growers to stay vigilant and take immediate precautions to safeguard their produce from the cyclone’s impact over the next 48 hours.

He also enquired about the availability of tarpaulins and officials’ preparedness for paddy procurement.

In Medak district, arrivals of stocks at the purchase centre of the local Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society in Kazipet village, Narsapur mandal, are increasing. However, procurement has yet to pick up. Farmers have expressed concerns over the delayed paddy purchases amid the impending cyclone threat. Yadadri Bhongir suffered major damage to paddy stocks in Choutuppal market yard due to heavy rains.

Officials in other districts, including those in Godavari and Krishna basins, are monitoring conditions closely as the cyclone’s influence spreads. Evacuation drills and relief preparations are underway to mitigate potential flooding risks.