Kodagu: Farmers in distress after hailstorm damages crops

Farmers are in distress after a hailstorm lashed different parts of Shanivarasanthe taluk in the Kodagu district. Several crops have been damaged.

Following the directions of Deputy Commissioner Charulata Somal, the officials from the agriculture and horticulture departments and the Coffee Board visited the spot to conduct a survey to assess the losses.

Large layers of ice had not melted even on Saturday evening at a few places with large hailstones still visible.

People enjoy the new sight

Following the spread of news on the hailstones, a large number of people had visited the school premises of Ankanahalli. People were enjoying the sight and were seen clicking photographs holding the hailstones in their fists.

Estimated crop loss

The officials have estimated that 155 acres of jowar, 400 acres of pepper, 123 acres of green chilli, 95 acres of banana, 129 acres of ginger, 112 acres of sweet potato, 1,450 acres of coffee and 198 acres of arecanut crops have been damaged in Ankanahalli, Gangavara, Seegemarooru, Menasa, Bettadalli, Manehalli, Nagavara, Mailapura, Badubanahalli, Ammalli, Nidta, Doddalli, Mullooru, Sidigalale and Kaisaravalli villages.

Green chilli plants have been completely damaged. The pepper vines have fallen on the ground. The roof of the Government High School in Ankanahalli too has been damaged.

Revenue inspector B R Manjunath, K S Sindhu of the horticulture department, Manaswi of the agriculture department, Vishwanath of Coffee Board and others participated in the survey to assess the damage.

‘Reminded us of snowfall in Kashmir’

Retired principal S M Umashankar from Shidigalale says, “I had not seen such a phenomenon. The layers of hailstones covering the yard reminded us of snowfall in Kashmir. Farmers have incurred a huge loss.”

The photographs and videos clicked by the locals after noticing their surrounding areas covered by a layer of ice have gone viral on social media.

The residents are apprehensive over their future now. “The district had been affected by natural calamities for the last three years. The year 2018 saw a major disaster in the district, which had claimed about 32 villages. The residents are worried about the monsoon, which is a few months away now,” said many residents.

Government High School, Ankanahalli headteacher Hemanth said, “There was cloudy weather on Saturday as well. The layers of ice had not melted yet.”

Meanwhile, the rain lashed Madikeri and surrounding areas on Friday evening.