Heavy downpour that lashed Raichur district in the last several days has caused extensive losses.
Many streams experienced flooding. An unaccounted for number of trees and several electricity poles have been uprooted in the rural areas leading to continuous power cut in many villages. Thousands of houses have partially collapsed. Three people have died in rain-related incidents. Several thousands acres of agriculture field with cotton, green chilli, groundnut, jowar, paddy and other small crops have seen complete damage. Farmers, who earlier faced a four-year of drought, are now facing difficulties in terms of returns from crops this year.
“We were again forced to face another crop loss owing to excessive rain this time,” Mallikarjun Patil, a resident of Jegarakal village, said.
Most of the agriculture fields that are close to streams were flooded by overflowing water and are yet to dry for farmers to prepare them for the rabi crop.
“I have lost hopes even on the rabi crops, as I have to prepare land and may not be able to do it unless land becomes dry,” another farmer said
Deputy Commissioner Gautham Bagadi told The Hindu that the loss caused owing to rain was estimated at ₹ 6.05 crore. He said that three human lives were lost, crops on 2,064 hectares damaged, 1,020 houses collapsed, 10 head of cattle died and 55 roads were damaged in rain. These figures were in a detailed report till October 9, he said and added that officials are preparing another report.
