Rain wreaks havoc in Nirmal

Nirmal: Gales accompanied by heavy rain and hailstones wrecked havoc in Nirmal, Adilabad on Saturday. Paddy left in the open in 35 Indira Kranti Patham paddy purchase centers was dampened. According to an estimate, over one lakh quintals of paddy was damaged due to the rain.

Due to the delay by the officials in purchasing paddy, one lakh quintals was damaged in the rains. Though the paddy was brought a week ago, the officials on one pretext or the other did not purchase paddy from the farmers. Jowar and vegetable crops, which were ready for harvest, were also damaged. Jowar fields were spoiled under the impact of gales and heavy rain.

Rajender, farmer, demanded that the government purchase the dampened paddy at minimum support price. The farmers expressed agony and apprehension over losing their investment. In Manjulapur, Sankaramma, farmer, complained that she had brought four tractor-loads of paddy to the purchase centre 20 days ago, but the officials did not bother to buy the produce. The farmers have been urging the government to come to their rescue as vegetable crops were being destroyed due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm.

At Manjulapur, District Collector Champalal inspected the dampened paddy and assured the farmers that he will take necessary measures to purchase the dampened paddy.As uprooted trees fell on power cables, due to gales, the electricity supply was disrupted in Nirmal.

Many roads were flooded and several low-lying areas were inundated. Commuting became difficult as uprooted trees and electric poles fell on the roads.Tin roofs of many shops at Telangana cross roads bus station were blown off. The people encountered many problems because of the heavy rains which lasted for about 30 minutes. Vehicle riders halted for shelter and resumed their travel only after the rain subsided.