Unseasonal rains and hailstorm wreaked havoc for farmers of three districts in Telangana, damaging the standing crops of paddy, red gram and tobacco crops over 4,221 hectares, affecting a total of 6,710 farmers. The estimates of the financial damage are yet to be assessed by the authorities.
On Monday, hailstorm hit Nizamabad, Mancherial and Nirmal. Mudhole, Lokeshwaram and Bhainsa mandals in Nirmal saw over 60 mm of rainfall. While, Nirmal, Nirmal rural, Tanur, Kuntala, Sarangapur, Dilawarpur, Kubheer, Pembi, Narsapur G, Khanapur, Mamda and Soan mandals recorded between 21 mm and 46.4 mm of rainfall.
Heavy rains were also recorded in Nizamabad, damaging maize, red jowar, paddy, sesame and tobacco crops in 4,221 hectares spread over 70 villages covering eight mandals. The hailstorm also killed at least 200 sheep in Balkonda mandal, reported Telangana Today.
The Meteorological department had issued a weather warning on Tuesday in North Telangana.
According to the Joint Director of Agriculture (JDA) of Nizamabad, 288 hectares of maize crop and 1,428 hectares of red jowar crop were damaged in 23 villages of Balonda, Mendora, Mupkal and Yergatla mandals, affecting nearly 2,939 farmers.
Paddy, maize, red jowar and sesame crops were damaged in 46 villages of Armoor, Makloor and Nandipet mandals, affecting 3,661 farmers.
According to The New Indian Express, crops grown over 10,000 acres of land were damaged in Nirmal district alone, besides killing a cattle grazer.
Maize alone grown in 8,017 acres of land were lost in Nirmal district, and 35 electricity poles were damaged disrupting the normal life of the people. In Mancherial district, as many as 136 poles were damaged, said the report.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Nirmal recorded the highest of 4cm rainfall in Telangana, followed by Navipet, Mudhole, Madnur, Khanpur and Sarangapur with 3 cm.
The lowest minimum temperature was also recorded with 15 degree Celsius in Adilabad.