Hailstorm destroys standing paddy crops

Parts of the North Karnataka region continued to receive heavy rainfall, accompanied by hailstorm and gusty winds.

Heavy rains lashed Yadgiri district on Tuesday, too. Hattigudur hobli in Shahapur taluk has received 43 mm of rainfall, Chakra hobli near Yadgiri taluk has received 80.2 mm of rainfall, Gurumatkal hobli has received 44.1 mm of rainfall and Konkal hobli has received 50 mm of rainfall, while Surpur taluk has received the lowest rainfall, according to the Agriculture department officials.

The officials of the Revenue and Agriculture departments begun a joint survey of crop damage in the district, which will be ready on Wednesday, informed Agriculture department Joint Director Dr Chetana Patil.

Rain accompanied by heavy winds and hailstorm lashed Hosapete taluk in Ballari district since Monday night.

Suffocated

At Sudugadu Siddara Colony,  an eight-month-old infant, Mutthamma, daughter of Husenappa and Manjamma, was suffocated to death as the tent in which the members belonging to the community are residing collapsed, as heavy rain lashed the town for more than two hours past Monday midnight.

By the time Manjamma rushed out with her four children, Mutthamma had died of suffocation, said Husenappa. Most of the tents belonging to the community had collapsed in the heavy rain.

Banana, sugar cane, paddy, cotton and maize crops cultivated on hundreds of acres in villages, including Vyasana-kere, Venkatapur, Danapur, Kaddirampur, Malapanagudi, Kamalapur and Mariyammanahalli, were destroyed.

The Agriculture department officials are assessing the crop damage, and the report will soon be submitted to the tahsildar, said Agriculture department Director Manjunath Kinnare.

Good rainfall in Ballari

Ballari City has also received good rainfall, while Hagaribommanahalli, Kampli, Siraguppa, Kurugod and other places have received moderate rainfall.

Hailstorm that lashed Surpur taluk in Kalaburagi district on Tuesday morning has destroyed paddy crops in Devikera, Hasanapur, Rattal, Lakshmipur and several other villages.

According to farmer Chandappa Bilakal from Devikeri village in Surpur taluk, “We have taken loans to cultivate the crops and the hailstorm has washed away our dreams.”

Tahsildar Sophia Sultana, revenue inspector Anaveerappa, village accountant Gurubasappa, assistant agriculture officers Ashok Kulkarni and Sharanappa Gumma inpsected the fields.