Unseasonal rains damage crops in 425 acres in Kothagudem

Paddy in about 202 acres, jowar in 60 acres, maize in 45 acres, banana plantations in about 50 acres damaged due to the rains

Kothagudem: Unseasonal rains have damaged standing crops in about 425 acres in the district, informed the District Collector, MV Reddy.

He held a video conference with the district and mandal level officers here on Thursday to assess the situation in the wake of unseasonal rains the district witnessed on Wednesday. Paddy in about 202 acres, jowar in 60 acres, maize in 45 acres, banana plantations in about 50 acres damaged due to the rains, he said.

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Reddy appealed to the public to be cautious as there was a forecast of thunderstorms for the next three days. He directed the officials to transport the paddy procured from farmers to mills or to stock the produce at nearby schools.

Tarpaulin sheets and bags have to be supplied to the farmers to protect the paddy at procurement centres from getting damaged, the Collector said while asking the farmers to take precautions to protect the crops. A report on the crop loss would be submitted to the government, he added.

According to the officials the district received an average of 29.9 mm rainfall during the past 24 hours with Bhadrachalam receiving 64.4 mm rainfall, followed Dummugudem 62.4 mm while Paloncha and Burgampahad received above 58 mm rainfall.

In Khammam, a few mandals like Tallada, Wyra and Bonakal received light rainfall.