Untimely rains bring hardship to farmers

Hyderabad, Mar 11 (UNI) Unseasonal rains in the last four days put farmers into trouble in Andhra Pradesh, damaging Rabi crops while MeT office today predicted more rains under the influence of an upper air circulation.

Ongole recorded a very heavy rainfall of 13 cm. The farmers in Prakasam district were distressed as their groundnut, paddy and other crops in over 10,000 acres were submerged, according to reports received by Disaster Management Department here.

Maize, paddy, vegetable and horticultural crops worth over Rs 20 crore were damaged in the recent rains in Karimnagar district, the met office said.

Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers were likley to occur at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and isolated rain or thundershowers were likely to occur over Telangana and Rayalaseema in the next 48 hours, they added.

The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm were Hanamakonda 5, Nandigama 4, Bapatla, Kavali, Ramagundam, Proddatur (Cuddapah dist) 3 each, Medak, Nalgonda, Nellore, Vijayawada AP, Palamaner and Punganur (both Chittoor dist), Repalle and Sattenapalli (both Guntur dist) 2 each.

The minimum temperatures fell at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana but rose at a few places over Rayalaseema.

They were below normal over Telangana but above normal at a few places over Rayalaseema and normal over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The lowest minimum temperature of 17 degrees Celsius was recorded at Hakimpet Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Medak and Ramagundam.

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