For the second time in less than a week, unseasonal rain lashed several parts of the district on Friday causing extensive damage to standing as well as harvested crops, besides disrupting coal production in Open Cast Projects (OCPs) in Kothagudem division.
One person was injured when lightning struck him at Jastipalli in Kamepalli mandal. Incidents of lightning were also reported from Nelakondapally mandal and a few other places in the last 24 hours.
Rain battered several areas in Wajedu, Venkatapuram and Dummugudem tribal sub-plan mandals in Bhadrachalam division on Friday morning.
The heavy downpour inflicted extensive damage to both standing and harvested paddy, chilli and other crops in the division.
Huge quantity of paddy stocked on the premises of the market yard in Burgumpadu got soaked due to unexpected heavy rain that lashed the mandal in the afternoon, sources added.
Heavy rain reportedly hampered coal production in Koyagudem OCP in Tekulapalli mandal.
Unexpected downpour disrupted the ongoing works on the construction of two new Pushkar bathing ghats on the banks of the Godavari in Bhadrachalam on Friday.
Nalgonda Staff Reporter writes: Parts of the district received heavy to moderate rains during the last 24 hours which caused extensive damage to standing crops and harvested paddy that was brought to markets.
Farmers, who brought paddy to Suryapet market yard, staged a protest demanding the government to purchase it by offering MSP. As the officials had failed to respond, the irate farmers ransacked furniture in the market.
Later, they staged a ‘rasta roko’ on NH-65, which has resulted in traffic jam. Police led by Suryapet DSP Mohammad Abdul Rasheed convinced the farmers to withdraw their protest. 24 mandals received rainfall during the past 24 hours. Chandur recorded 45 mm rainfall followed by Huzurnagar -- 40.6 mm, Gurrampode -- 22mm, Munagala 20 mm.
Karimnagar Special Correspondent writes: Continuous unseasonal rains and hailstorms have become a cause of concern for the farming community in various parts of the district.
Even as the farmers were yet to recover from the shock of recent rains, they again wreaked havoc in Chigurumamidi, Koheda, Bejjanki, Manakondur, Karimnagar, Kamalapur, Sircilla, Ellathankunta, Konaraopeta mandals on Thursday night and Friday. Standing paddy and maize crops, and mango orchards were damaged in about 10,000 acres. A fortnight ago, unseasonal rains damaged crops in over 30,000 hectares in the district. Mango orchards were damaged in 10,624 hectares, paddy crop in 8,456 hectares, til in 5,903 hectares, maize in 1,150 hectares, besides other crops. Collector Neetu Kumari Prasad visited the rain-hit villages of Chigurumamidi mandal and inspected crop damages. Meanwhile, farmers staged a ‘rasta roko’ in Husnabad mandal headquarters demanding immediate payment of compensation.
