Heavy rain in Rayalaseema region damages orchards

ANANTAPUR: Hailstorms and whirlwinds hit several parts of Rayalaseema region since Sunday while temperatures continued to remain high in several areas. Massive damage to standing crops and fruit orchards has been reported from many places.

Heavy downpour occurred in Puttaparthi area and roads and fields were submerged in rainwater. Thunder storms hit Anantapur, Kadapa and Sathya Sai districts.

A video of the burning of a coconut tree after it was hit by lightning in Puttaparthi area went viral on social media. Farmers ran to safety from their fields.

Gusty winds and heavy rain damaged standing crops and orchards in many areas. Banana, mango and papaya orchards suffered massive damage in Kalyandurg, Atmakur, Belaguppa and Pamidi mandals in Anantapur district.

A high-tension electric pole collapsed in Bhoginepalli village in Rapthadu mandal in the wee hours on Monday and disrupted power supply. The HT pole fell in the agriculture fields.

In addition, at least nine electric poles were uprooted in Boginepalli and Chapatla villages by gusty winds. About 50 trees were uprooted and they fell on the roads, disrupting the traffic.

TD leader Paritala Sriram, who visited the fields and interacted with the farmers, urged the government to provide reasonable compensation to the affected farmers. The mango crop in its peak harvesting stage faced odds and its prices came down in the market.

Orchards of export quality orchards were also hit due to the gusty winds and the major crop of Banginapalli mangoes suffered substantial loss. As the prices fell, the three-kg packs of mangoes were sold for Rs 100 in the retail market. Heavy rain with gusty winds lashed most parts of this region.

A shepherd, K Gurrapa, 40, died in the lighting at Tellapadu in Kalasapadu mandal in Kadapa district  while he was grazing cattle in the agriculture fields. Banana orchards too suffered huge losses in Kothapalle and Venkatapuram villages in Pulivendula. More than 5,000 banana plants fell there in the storm, reports said.