NALGONDA/NIZAMABAD: Rain accompanied with gales and hailstorm damaged around 15,000 quintals of paddy kept at the market yards and IKP centres in the district, according to initial estimates of the agriculture department. This apart, standing paddy crop was damaged in around 200 acres of land in the erstwhile district on wee hours of Sunday. Farmers took out agitations at various market yards and staged a rasta roko against the negligence of market yard officials regarding purchase of paddy.
Paddy stored at the market yard in Ramannapet was destroyed in the rains in wee hours of Sunday. Following this, CPM leaders alleged that most of the paddy came to the market yard on Saturday evening itself but the officials did not purchase the paddy. The agitating CPM leaders broke the market yard office lock and distributed gunny bags to the farmers. Thousands of quintals of paddy was ruined by rains in Mothkur and Athmakur of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.
Similarly, in the market yards, IKP and Primary Agriculture Society (PACS) centres of Chityala mandal of the district, around 4,000 quintals of paddy was soaked in rain.
Farmers in the Suryapet district headquarters market yard resorted to protest rallies after around 3,000 quintal paddy was damaged in the rains. The protesting farmers demanded that the damaged paddy be purchased at Minium Support Price. District joint collector T Sanjeeva Reddy interacted with the farmers. He assured them of purchasing the damaged paddy at MSP of `1,790 per quintal.
Tonnes of paddy kept in the Thipparty Market yard also met the same fate. Farmers staged rasta roko on Narketpally-Addanki highway bypass road demanding purchase of paddy at MSP. District joint collector C Narayana Reddy, DRO Bimya Nayak, RDO Venkata Chary visited the market yard and assured farmers to look into the matter.
Strong winds damage crops in Nizamabad
Meanwhile, in Nizamabad, strong winds damaged the standing crops in around 1,500 acres over the last 48 hours. The officials are preparing a consolidated report about the overall crop damage in the district which will be sent to the government.
Kamareddy district collector N Satyanarayana has said that including mango crop, farmers faced crop damage in 22 mandals of Nizamabad district. He has said that they assessing village-wise crop damage. Nizamabad district Joint Collector A Ravindar Reddy said around 460 acres of mango crop was damaged in the district.
Distressed farmer ends life
A farmer committed suicide at Athmakur (S) mandal headquarters on Sunday. The deceased farmer had three acres of land and had reportedly taken another seven acres of land on lease for cultivating paddy. The crop, which was ready for harvest around two days ago, was completely damaged in the Sunday rains. s the rains started on Sunday, he rushed to his fields. The sight of the ruined crop in acres of land left him devastated. Unable to bear with the loss, the ejected farmer reportedly ended his life.
Two injured in thunderbolt
Two persons were injured by thunderbolt at Saidhapuram village of Yadagirigutta mandal of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. Also, thunderbolt claimed the lives of two cows at Mellacheruvu thanda of Narayanapuram mandal in the district.