‘Helen’ shatters hopes of bumper paddy yield

Cyclone damages crops that survived the recent Phailin

A flattened paddy field and coconut trees that took the brunt of the gale thataccompanied Cyclone Helen, at Pedamainivani Lanka in West Godavari nearMachilipatnam on Friday. Photo: A.V.G. Prasad

Crop in thousands of acres of paddy fields, which was ready for harvesting in a couple of weeks in Krishna District, collapsed on the field with the grain due to heavy winds accompanying Cyclone Helen.

The casualties are less, but ‘Helen’ has caused unimaginable loss to paddy crop. Heavy rain recorded in the evening led to inundation of fields, shattering the hopes of a bumper yield. The fields which survived Phailin in the six coastline mandals are the worst affected due to the damage caused by Cyclone Helen.

No power

Grief-stricken farmers say that there is no chance to extract grain from the fallen paddy crop, which would not survive at this stage. The stretch of paddy fields on both sides of the National Highway (Machilipatnam-Vijayawada) was clear in indicating how Helen had taken its toll and impacted kharif crops.

There was no power supply from 11 a.m. till late in the night. On the other hand, the officials were unable to complete the required repairs which were identified in the afternoon. Kruthuvennu mandal received around 7 cm of rainfall on Friday and the Krishna District average was 9 mm, according Meteorological authorities. Krishna District Special Officer for ‘Helen’ B. R. Meena, who had served as Collector in Krishna District, accompanied by officials inspected the rehabilitation centre at Hindu College in Machilipatnam.