Fodder worth 18 lakh set ablaze

Kurnool: Some unidentified persons set ablaze 18 heaps of fodder in Mantralayam mandal on Wednesday night. Around Rs 18 lakh worth fodder was reduced to ashes.

According to available information, around 20 farmers of Sugur village in Mantralayam have purchased paddy hay for their cattle. All the farmers have dumped the purchased fodder at one of their field on Wednesday night.

After dumping the fodder heaps, they went back to their houses so that they can take them in the morning. Meanwhile, they came to know that their fodder caught fire and immediately rushed to the spot. But they could not do anything as the fodder was reduced to ashes in the flames.

Speaking to the media here on Thursday, one of the villagers, Chinna Rangappa said that with great difficulty, they had procured the paddy hay to feed their cattle after going from village to village.

Due to reduction in paddy cultivation this year, the demand for fodder was very high. “We have purchased a heap by paying Rs 1 lakh and now the entire fodder was reduced to ashes,” he lamented. Rangappa suspected the hand of a known persons from their village behind the act.

He urged the government to save them from the heavy losses. He said they would file a case with the police and would urge them to initiate stringent action against the miscreants, who were responsible for the loss.