Sudden rains spoil harvest-ready paddy in Delta

TIRUCHY: The sudden downpour across the Delta region damaged crops ready for harvest in several thousands of acres, while normal life was badly affected in urban areas on Monday.

Sources said, that rains suddenly started during the wee hours of Monday and lashed most parts of Delta districts till 6 am. The continuous rains accompanied by strong winds and lightning, damaged several acres of paddy and the water failed to recede from the fields, which made things worse for farmers across the region.

Tiruchy district during the brief spell recorded 13 cm of rainfall. Tiruchy town received a maximum of 169 mm while Junction and Golden Rock received 114 mm, Thuvakudi received 100 mm while Navalur Kuttapattu received 95 mm. Similarly, Bhuthalur in Thanjavur received 167 mm, while Grand Anicut reported 155 mm, Thanjavur city 122 mm, Neivasal 118 mm and Vallam 117 mm. Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts also experienced heavy rain during the same period.

Though the rains submerged paddy in several areas, residents from the urban areas braved the slushy pathways caused due to the digging of roads for the Smart City works.

Farmers from Thanjavur, Bhuthalur, Orathanadu, Papanasam in Thanjavur district, Nannilam, Mannargudi, Thiruthuraipoondi in Tiruvarur were upset as their paddy ready for harvest were submerged. In Vallam, Alangudi and Karambai areas, nurseries were damaged by the sudden rains.

In addition to this, the heavy downpour damaged an under-construction high-level bridge between Vallam and Alangudi in Thanjavur. The equipment, including generator and the pumping machines were also submerged and were removed with the help of earthmovers.

The rains also damaged around 1,000 bags of paddy kept near the DPCs in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam. Farmers demanded to expedite the procurement process at once and undertake damage assessment for proper compensation to their damaged crops.

The rains also damaged around 1,000 bags of paddy kept near the DPCs in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam