Agricultural crops in more than 340 acres were destroyed and 105 poultry animals killed due to sudden hailstones that rained on Chevella mandal in Ranga Reddy district Tuesday night.
Two days after seven villages witnessed thunderous showers with hailstones, authorities who visited the areas said that in addition to the above damage, horticulture crops in 1,154 acres were also lost.
“Of the poultry animals which died, 60 sheep were from Kummera village. Out of the remaining, 34 were kids, eight were goats , two were calves and one was a pregnant buffalo,” informed Ravinder Reddy, Chevella mandal revenue officer, adding that 7,100 poultry chicks also died.
Official assessment of the dead livestock has put their worth at around Rs 4.39 lakh, and although there was no definite approximation of destroyed crops, an official on condition of anonymity said it was around Rs 90 lakh.
While Reddy and other officials, visited seven villages to assess the spoilage, Ranga Reddy collector Vani Prasad visited Mudimyal village and Moinabad’s neighbouring mandals.
When asked how the government would help the farmers, Reddy said,“Once we finish inspectiona and enumeration, a final report will be submitted, based on which a decision will be taken.”
Ice crystals 2-3 inches in diameter!
On contacting the met department, officials said, “The entire deluge occurred in just a 10 kilometer radius between 9-9.30 pm Tuesday. When it ended, the ground had almost one foot thick ice.” Narsimha Rao, assistant meteorologist said the hailstones were 2-3 inches in diameter.
Where did it rain ice?
Mudimyal, Ravulapally, Malkapuram, Kummera, Gollapalli, Yenkepalli and Kammeta.