Central team interacts with cyclone-hit farmers 

Guntur: The Central team to assess the crop damage caused by the Phethai cyclone on Friday visited Vellaluru village in Ponnnur mandal of Guntur district and interacted with the farmers. The farmers explained they their paddy crop was discoloured due to rain water and crops in thousands of acres were damaged due to cyclone. The team checked the damaged paddy.

The farmers urged the team for sanctioning liberal assistance from the Centre. YSRCP leader Meruga Nagarjuna demanded Rs 10,000 compensation per acre to farmers whose crop was damaged due to Phethai cyclone and criticised the State government for not taking steps to extend helping hand to the farmers.

In Tadiparru village in Tenali revenue division, the farmers and their family members sought assistance from the Centre. They said due to cyclone, their crops were damaged and suffered heavy losses.

Joint collector AMD Imtiaz, who submitted a report on crop loss, said that the government would purchase damaged paddy from the farmers. Earlier, the Central team members visited the photo exhibition set up on crop damage at Tenali RDO office. Later, the officials explained the crop loss caused by the cyclone through a power point presentation.