CHITTOOR/TIRUPATI: Bringing the much needed relief from the sweltering heat and also cheers among the farming community, heavy rains lashed majority of the mandals in the district, most of them in the eastern parts of the district, since Saturday night.
According to officials, nearly 55 mandals in the city recorded heavy rainfall from Saturday night to Sunday morning. In the eastern mandals, areas in the three constituencies of Srikalahasti, Satyavedu and Nagari received more than 10 cm of rainfall. With this, farmers under the catchment areas of Swarnamukhi and Telugu Ganga rivers in eight mandals expedited the paddy sowing operations.
Officials said the average rainfall that the district received is 172.6 mm in July and on Sunday alone, 55 mandals of the district recorded 34 mm.
Erpedu received 111.8 mm of rainfall followed by Renigunta with 106.2 mm, Satyavedu 108.1 mm and Tirupati Rural 102 mm.
In the western mandals too, normal to heavy rainfall was recorded. In Chittoor, Bangarupalyam, Putalapattu, V Kota and Santhipuram mandals, more than 6 cm rainfall was recorded. Officials said the rains will rekindle the hopes of farmers who would be taking up cultivation of groundnut, tomato and other pulses.
Similarly, the rains that lashed Chittoor, Putalapattu and GD Nellore are also likely to increase the water levels there by bringing down the water problem to some extent.
Meanwhile, district chief planning officer CH Bhaskar Sarma said the district would be receiving normal to heavy rains in the next four days. District agriculture joint director A Ravi Kumar said they have completed the supply of subsidised groundnut seeds to farmers and also said the farmers can avail agriculture implements on subsidy. Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed Tirupati and Tirumala since Saturday night giving some respite from the heat. However, the rain water left several low lying areas inundated while roads at several places were clogged with water.
The rains on the Tirumala footsteps also brought the seasons first waterfall at the famous Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple in the temple town. Pilgrims and devotees enjoyed the first waterfall on Sunday.