Cyclone Murasu damages over 274 hectares of crop area in Prakasam district

Paddy crops in borewell-irrigated fields turn dry, with cracks appearing in the soil, following heavy rain and strong winds triggered by Cyclone Murasu at Singarakondapalem village in Addanki mandal in Prakasam district on Wednesday.

More than 274 hectares of agricultural crop area was damaged across seven mandals in Prakasam district due to Cyclone Murasu, affecting the livelihoods of 371 farmers, District Agriculture Officer (DAO) Srinivasa Rao told The Hindu.

The seven mandals include Ballikurava, J. Pangulur, Mundlamuru, Addanki, Santhamaguluru, Naguluppalapadu and Korisapadu. Of the total enumerated area of 274.19 hectares, the Agriculture Department has approved 267.08 hectares and rejected 7.11 hectares.

According to information provided by the District Agriculture Officer, maize is the major crop in the district and has suffered the maximum damage across 154.17 hectares, followed by paddy and cotton crops sown on 66.02 hectares and 49.78 hectares respectively.

Black gram and sugarcane are the other crops that have also suffered damage due the heavy rains triggered by the cyclone. The paddy fields in Kothareddypalem, Singarakondapalem, Dharmavaram, Kalavakuru and Chinakothapalli villages in Addanki mandal were inundated.

Meanwhile, the power infrastructure in the region suffered severe damage following heavy rains and strong winds triggered by the cyclone. Owing to the disrupted power supply and lack of irrigation, the borewell-irrigated fields have turned dry, with cracks appearing in the soil.

The Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Limited (APCPDCL) has almost completed the power restoration works across 613 Cyclone Murasu-affected villages in Prakasam district. Nearly 90 per cent of the repair works in agriculture and aquaculture connections has also been completed.

Speaking to The Hindu, APCPDCL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Pogaku Pulla Reddy said, “Of the 28,907 cyclone-affected connections, 22,887 have been rectified and only 6,020 are pending in agriculture segment, while 125 services are yet to be rectified in the non agriculture segment.”

“The overall cost of damages has been estimated at ₹21.15 crore in the district. Around 107 teams, comprising a total of 1,067 members, were arranged for the restoration works here,” he informed, adding that 100 per cent power supply for agriculture and aquaculture will be restored in two days.

As part of the restoration measures, APCPDCL Director (Projects and HRD) T.V.S.N. Murthy visited Uppugundur, Ammanabrolu, Kanaparthi, V.R. Palem and other villages in the district on Wednesday and inspected the electricity restoration works at the field level.

Andhra Pradesh / Ongole / cyclones / rains