Heavy rain hits villages in Kolar taluk

The heavy rain lashed the town and the taluk all through Saturday. The rain and the gusty winds have blown off the roofs of some houses at Yalawara, Poovandahalli, Yalacheepura, Kamadhenuhalli and other villages in Marjenahalli gram panchayat limits in the taluk. A huge banyan tree has been uprooted by the rain accompanied by thunder. However, there were no reports of damage.

At Yalawara village, the strong wind has taken away the cement roof of agricultural labourer Sarojamma’s house.

“This is a very old house. We are living in this house from the last 50 years. We are labourers and leading life with difficulties,” she said.

She said she does not whom to approach to get  compensation from the government.

Crops destroyed

Hailstorm which lashed some parts of Bangarpet taluk on Saturday evening has destroyed crops worth Rs 25 crore, Deputy Commissioner Dr K V Trilok Chandra said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference after inspecting the rain-hit areas, he said at the outset, standing crops on more than 800 acres of land have been damaged by the rain. Papaya, tomato, coriander and capsicum farmers are the worst hit. A number of polyhouses have also fallen down. The exact quantum of the loss will be calculated in the next 15 days, he added.

Dr Chandra said a report on rain loss will be submitted to the government and more compensation will be sought for the affected farmers.

The compensation will be soon disbursed using Rs 3.7 crore released in the backdrop of drought, he said.