Heavy rain and hailstones damaged standing paddy crop in hundreds of acres in the two taluks on Friday night.
Heavy rain has left a trail of destruction in paddy fields of Sri Ramnagar, Gunduru, Singanala, Hosakeri Camp, Hanavala, Mustur, Daggi, Pragatinagar, Marali, Kulgadi, Acharanarasapura, Hebbal and other villages in Gangavati taluk of Koppal district.
“Although rain that lashed several villages in Gangavati taluk has been reported, there has been no accurate information regarding the damage caused,” said tahsildar C D Geeta. However, efforts are underway to collect information from revenue inspector and village accountant about the crop loss, she added.
“Nearly five per cent of paddy crop was destroyed owing to extreme cold in weather in January. Besides, halting of water supply from Tunga Bhadra reservoir by April 10 too hit the crop in the region,” rued N Subramanya, a farmer.
Crop loss in Sindhanur
Paddy grown on several acres of land in Malkapur and Jalihal villages in Sindhanur taluk of Raichur district was damaged in the rain accompanied by hailstones that lashed the taluk Friday evening. Farmers who have spent nearly Rs 20,000 per acre of paddy field are now facing loss.
Moreover, paddy was cultivated in only 25 per cent of the area in the taluk, as the water flow in Tunga Bhadra Left Canal has dipped during the summer. The yield was good too.
However, hailstones have ruined the crop leaving farmers in the taluk in distress.
“The State government should review the situation and compensate the farmers, who have lost their crop,” said former legislator Badarli Hampanagoud.
Tahsildar K Narasimha Naik who surveyed the destruction caused by hailstones directed the revenue inspector to prepare a report at the earliest, to be submitted to the deputy commissioner.