Untimely rain wreaks havoc in Telangana

Hyderabad: Sudden and unseasonal rain, which has been lashing Telangana districts for the last several days, caused severe damage to crops in thousands of acres in the region, striking a blow to farmers. Heavy stocks of grains stored in markets have been soaked. Mainly commercial crops in Ranga Reddy, Karimnagar, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Khammam districts were extensively damaged.

In Nalgonda district, the rain struck when paddy was ready for harvesting, packing and shifting. Farmers were hopeful of taking the produce home in a couple of days and sell in local markets. At Mushampally, nearly 70 quintals of crop was inundated following sudden rain on Saturday night, leading to discolouring and fall in MSP to farmers.

Crops in Guttakindiannaram, Chinna Kaparthy and Mushampally villages were also submerged in rain water. The farmers have been busy trying to dry them. A house was completely damaged at Thimmapur village after a thunder struck. The officials are visiting the affected areas to estimate the crop loss. In Karimnagar, the untimely rain with thunderstorm during the last four days in Karimnagar district caused severe crop damage, dashing hopes of farmers who were looking forward to the Rabi to recover the loss suffered during the Khariff.

The crops which were damaged include maize, banana and mango in Jagtiyal sub-division, severely impacting mango exports. Mango plantation spread over 160 acres in several villages suffered extensive damage in Sircilla of Mustabad mandal, as also paddy in 200 acres across Terlumaddi, Chikodu, Badanakal and Mohinikunta villages. Officials have estimated that mango plantation in 6,000 hectares has been hit.

The damage to maize crop has come at a time when it is to be harvested. As a result fungus has developed.Electric poles in Metpalli, Mallapur and Medipalli mandals have been uprooted by strong winds plunging many villages into darkness. The power set-up has been badly affected, forcing the officials to take up large-scale repairs, rendering villages to go without supply.

In Nizamabad, Thunder/lightning struck killing two persons---Swamy in Bhikkanur mandal and Mudam Jeevan in Kamareddy mandal---in the district on Sunday. Heavy rain lashed several villages in Kamareddy constituency for the past two days destroying crops on a large scale. Kamareddy, Machareddy, Bhikkanur and Domakonda mandals were severely hit, following uprooting several big mango trees. Thousands of tender mangoes were thrown to the ground. Paddy was completely damaged.

Distraught farmers who incurred heavy loss have the government to pay adequate compensation. The unexpected rain struck seriously on the hopes of Mahbubnagar farmers. Heavy rains lashed Kodangal, Kollapur, Atchampet, Kalwakurthy, Mahbubnagar constituencies causing heavy loss of crops. The Kollapur mangos are very popular in this region. The mango cop suffered a huge loss with this sudden downpour.