HYDERABAD: The first major rainfall of this monsoon which started last night across several parts of the state brought cheers to the farming community. Local irrigation tanks started receiving good inflows and kharif activity picked up pace in the state.In Sangareddy district, except for one or two mandals, copious rains brought life to tanks and lakes. Tanks in Nallawagu and Nyalkal mandal in Narayankhed area are overflowing. “A 20 percent rainfall was recorded in the last week of June,’’ an official said.
Agriculture department officials said farmers can now sow pulses and cotton. Anjaiah, a farmer from Nyalkal mandal said most of the farmers have sown seeds in first week of June and the rains have washed away the seeds. However, he said bountiful of rains will do good to the farmers.
Meanwhile, heavy rains in Nyalkal mandal damaged 10 houses and one house collapsed but no casualty was reported. In Sangareddy town, heavy rains inundated low-lying areas of Moqdoom Nagar, Raksha Colony and other areas. Narayankhed reported highest rainfall of 11.4 cm in the district, followed by Zaheerabad, Mangalparthy, Jarasangham mandal (7 cm). In Bhadradri Kothagudem district, overflowing Gundlavagu near Gundepudi village damaged the bridge between Julurpad and Chandrugonda mandals disrupting road connectivity.
Meanwhile, lightning struck on the traffic signalling system in Karimnagar district disrupting railway traffic between Khazipet and Balharshah. Lightning on Sunday night hit railway signals at Pothkapalli in Odela mandal and train services have stopped since then. Swarana Jayanthi and Sampark Kranthi express trains were stranded at Peddapalli railway station and Bhagyanagar Express had to be halted at Raghavapur for several hours. Meanwhile, in Karimnagar town, lightning brought down a parapet wall of an apartment and also damaged about 15 TV sets and other electronic equipment in the flats.