Heavy rains damage paddy crop in Srikakulam district

Srikakulam: Due to depression in Bay of Bengal, all parts across Srikakulam district received heavy rainfall for the past two days. As a result, paddy crop was damaged in catchment areas of Vamsadhara, Nagavali and Bahuda Rivers.

This year paddy cultivation works started more than one month behind the schedule in the wake of long dry spell. Paddy plants are in growing stage in all mandals but present cyclone rains hit the early stage plantations.

The paddy crop is being damaged in Itchapuram, Sompeta, Palasa, Vajrapukotturu, Santhabommali, Gara, Polaki, Jalumuru, Narasannapeta, Amudalavalasa, L.N.Peta, Kotturu and Pathapatnam and other mandals.

Agricultural officials started enumeration of crop damage in all mandals. Till Friday evening, we have identified that paddy crop was completely inundated in an extent of 1,593 hectares in five mandals and 27 villages, said joint director for agriculture P Ganga Varaprasad. "We will continue enumeration of paddy crop damage in all mandals and will estimate loss in three days," the JD added.