Coconut, banana plantations damaged

Banana and coconut plantations suffered extensive damage from gale-force winds that swept parts of the district on Friday.

According to local sources, over 1,000 banana plants ready for harvesting were uprooted at N. Puliampatti. "Nature has dealt us a heavy blow. We’ve suffered a huge loss," said K. Selvam, a farmer.

"My cow, which was tethered to a coconut tree, was killed when the tree got uprooted in the gale and fell on it," said Arul Samy, a resident of the village. "Banana and the cow were the only sources of income for my family. Now, they’ve gone," he said.

An area covering around 15 acres was littered with fallen banana plants.

"Each farmer had spent Rs.4 lakh to Rs.6 lakh on his banana crop.The government has to compensate us for the loss if we must continue farming," said Joseph, a villager.

A team of horticulture officials, led by Assistant Agriculture Officer Murugarasu, inspected the gale-affected areas and assessed the damage. A report will be submitted to the government for compensation, Mr. Murugarasu said.

Standing crop were damaged in Nallamanaickenpatti panchayat as well.

Southern parts of Dindigul town and sorrounding villages experienced showers on Thursday evening.

Palani received 18 mm rain and many low-lying areas in the town were flooded. Power supply was disrupted for three hours after a tree fell on an electric post on the Palani- Dharapuam High Road.