Cyclone Gaja fails to bring rains to Nellore

Nellore: Cyclone Gaja failed to bring rainfall to Nellore. The city and other parts of the district received only intermittent showers in the last couple of days. Interestingly, some part of the district received 3-4 cm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, still deficit rainfall level increased from 63 per cent to 66 per cent now.

In fact, the district has been facing shortage of rainfall this year and it was around 63 per cent till last week. Farmers also were facing difficulty for starting agriculture work and those who were having lands under tanks and wells have initiated the activity. Even though city is close to the sea within 25 km, it failed to receive good rainfall for the last 24 hours even though thick clouds were passing through the city region toward west.

Interestingly, any thunderstorm or cloudburst that crosses the city simply takes a curve either from southern part of the city or northern part of the city failing to shower even a drop of rain.

Ananthasagaram, Duttaluru, Vinjamuru, Kavali, Seetharamapuram and Dagadarthi mandals received 3-4 cm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Only some villages of Ananthasagaram mandal received more than 5 cm rainfall, and Duttaluru and Dagadarthi comes next with around 4 cm in the last 24 hours. The city and its limits have received intermittent drizzles.

Many upland areas located on western parts of the district also received 1-2 cm of rainfall. Now, the district average deficit rainfall had increased to 66 per cent even though half of the northeast monsoon is over. Nellore stands first in the entire Andhra Pradesh in deficit rainfall till now. “Farmers are facing difficulty this time due to scanty rainfall and cannot expect good yielding this year.

Government has to support the farmers for continuing their activity. Otherwise, they would face dire consequences,” said Ch Kotireddy, State Secretary of Consortium of Indian Farmers’ Associations.