Harvest-ready paddy damaged by incessant rain and gale

Continuous rains coupled with heavy winds damaged over 300 acres of paddy ready for harvest in the delta region on Tuesday.

There were heavy rains across the Cauvery Delta region since Monday night that continued till Tuesday. Rains started at around 11.30 pm on Monday in Nagapattinam and lasted till 1 am and the heavy rains accompanied with wind damaged around 100 acres of ready for harvest paddy at Pattamangalam and its surrounding areas. Rains also lashed Nagore, Sellur and the East Coast road in Nagapattinam district.

Similarly, rains were witnessed in Tiruvarur district and also at Nannilam, Kudavasal and Valangaiman in the district.

Meanwhile, heavy rains that lashed Thanjavur damaged around 200 acres of paddy in the wee hours of Tuesday at Papanasam, Manalmedu, Kabistalam, Saliyamangalam, Kovilur and Arulmozhipettai. Damaged were ready to harvest kuruvai paddy and farmers, who visited their respective fields, urged the government to enumerate the damage and provide compensation. Meanwhile, the rains with heavy wind uprooted several coconut trees in Papanasam areas and even the Tangedco service line poles were felled at Ayyampettai and more than 20 villages left without power supply.

Since the annual procurement period ends in September, the DPCs stopped procuring paddy from the farmers and so the paddy piled up before the DPCs left there until the new period commences from October 1. However, farmers revolted against the officials and demanded to procure till the month-end.