Erode: Heavy rains lashed in and around Gobichettipalayam, uprooting trees in many areas due to heavy winds on Thursday. Besides, about 1,000 broiler birds died in an unfortunate poultry farm collapse in the district.
According to police, areas in Gobichettipalayam taluk including Polavakalipalayam, Kullampalayam, Modachur, Vellangkovil and Siruvalur received heavy rains since Wednesday evening. Following rains all through the night, a poultry farm owned Ramkrishnan at Pommanaikenpalayam caved in completely. The farm had about 5,000 broiler birds and of this nearly 1,000 died on the spot. The area has more silkworm units and their fate is precarious as the rooftops of many units were blown away by the winds, police said.
Similarly, about 20,000 banana plants in Othakuthirai, Kadukkampalayam, Pommanaikenpalayam and Koogalur were completed damaged in rain. Meanwhile, the building of a government higher secondary school premises at Polavakaliapalayam was damaged as a tree crashed. Similarly, more than 100 trees were uprooted in the villages around Gobichettipalayam and electric lines were snapped at many places, causing power cuts in more than 50 villages.
According to farmers, more than Rs 1 crore worth crops have been damaged and they have requested the state government to take steps for providing compensation.
