Downpour, gales wreak havoe on crops in West Godavari

Eluru/Chintalapudi: Gusty winds and heavy rains lashed the upland mandals on Monday, much to the dismay of farmers. Tough people heaved a sigh of relief after suffering long days of scorching summer, the windstorms and the heavy rains damaged many crops, causing losses to farmers.

Chintalapudi, T Narsapuram Kamavarapukota and Lingapalem mandals witnessed heavy gales in the afternoon on Monday followed by heavy rain, which resulted in damage to crops like mango, maize and paddy. The winds started in various parts of the district, including in Eluru, at around 12 noon and lasted for over an hour. Eluru and surrounding areas witnessed winds followed by showers only over 10 minutes. Even as the rain gave a respite from the heat, the farmers incurred huge losses. Maize farmers suffered huge losses as the crop was damaged by the gales and heavy rain. Paddy, which was spread out for drying, was washed off.

The farmers of Mudicharla, Vemulapalli, Badarala incurred heavy losses as banana plants were toppled due to the gales. In Rangapuram village, papaya crop was damaged. In Bogolu, Mulagalampadu, Tochilakarayudu Palem, Singagudem, Lingapalem, Malleswaram and other areas, mango gardens were badly damaged as the mangoes fell down because of the gusty winds. Thunderstorm and lightning were also witnessed in Chintalapudi mandal.

Boy dies as lightning strikes

A 14-year-old boy died as lightning struck the tree under which he was taking cover from the rain, at Yarrampalli village of Chintalapudi mandal on Monday. Dileep of Aswaraopeta, had come to his maternal grandparents home here for the vacation. He went along with his grandmother to the agriculture field in the village.

As the heavy rain and gale started, he, along with his grandmother and other labourerers, took shelter under a mango tree nearby. Suddenly, lightning struck and the boy fell unconscious. Others who escaped unhurt immediately rushed him to Chintalapudi hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.

House gutted due to lightning

Buttayagudem mandal witnessed heavy gales and rain followed by thunderstorm. In Reddy Ganapavaram village of Buttayagudem, house of a farmer, Jampana Sitaramaraju was gutted due to lightning. According to sources, the farmer was not at his residence when the lighting struck. He had faced a loss of Rs 30,000 as the money which he got after selling his maize crop was kept in the house which was burnt, according to him.