Unseasonal rains result in extensive crop loss in districts across Telangana
Districts of erstwhile Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda, and Yadadri Bhongir bear the brunt
Hyderabad: Unseasonal rains have led to extensive crop losses across different districts in the State. The districts of erstwhile Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy and Nalgonda, especially, Yadadri Bhongir have borne the brunt of the sudden downpour.
The State government has called for a preliminary report on the extent of damage caused. In Yadadri Bhongir district, the highest rainfall of 9.7 centimetres was recorded in Samsthan Narayanpur.
Strong winds uprooted trees, blocking roads in areas like Raigiri. Hailstorms in areas like Turkapally, Bommalaramaram, and Rajapet resulted in a huge loss for mango crop.
In Nizamabad, paddy stocks dried up in the harvest points and on the main roads were exposed to rain. Farmers in Kamareddy district experienced severe crop damage due to hailstorms.
The unseasonal rains also affected maize and millet crops in Jukkal, Banswada, and Nasrullabad.
Paddy fields in Banswada, Birkoor, Bichkunda, Pitlam, Sadashivnagar, Kamareddy, and Ramareddy were flattened by strong winds.
In Mulugu district, mango orchards were affected due to gales. Rains impacted the chilli crop that was ready for harvest. The unseasonal rain spell also led to chilli stocks that were already harvested getting dampened.
Farmers, fearing a drop in price for the rain-soaked chilli stocks, were trying to dispose of their stocks immediately.
Farmers across the affected areas demanded compensation for the losses, especially for crops like chilli and tobacco that were severely impacted.
Crops damaged on 180 acres in Gajwel
The agriculture officials put the crop loss at 180 acres in Gajwel mandal, which was lashed by heavy rain on Thursday. Officials said no mandal in the district reported crop loss except for Gajwel.
After a primary enumeration on Friday, they found paddy and maize crops damaged on 126 and 54 acres respectively.
The farmers of Dharmareddypally, Sangupally, Komatibanda, and Jaligama suffered the most. Maize and sunflower stocks were drenched in the Gajwel Market Yard in Siddipet district.
It is to be recalled a man died in a wall collapse at Jaligama while several poultry birds died as a shed collapsed at Thimmaipally due to heavy rains lashed the district.
ADA Babu Nayak, AO Nagaraju and other officials examined the damaged fields on Friday.