Hyderabad: Heavy rains, hailstorms, and strong winds battered northern Telangana on May 21, causing significant damage to horticultural crops, paddy, maize, and houses with roofing sheets.
Impact on Agriculture
- Paddy waiting for procurement at Metpally agricultural market yard (Jagtial district) was soaked in rainwater, with farmers complaining about delays in lifting their produce for the past 20 days.
- Maize produce at Choppadandi agricultural market yard was also damaged due to heavy rain.
- Ramadugu and Gangadhara mandals (Karimnagar district) recorded intense rainfall, affecting crops.
- Several areas in Medak district witnessed strong winds, uprooting trees and damaging houses.
Severe Weather Incidents
- Pothamsettipally village (Kolcharam mandal, Medak district) experienced a whirlwind, damaging trees and roofing sheets.
- An electricity pole fell on a person, injuring both his legs—he was shifted to a hospital for treatment.
- A roofing sheet flew off a house, landing on a passing car, but passengers escaped unhurt.
- A fallen tree on the Medak-Hyderabad highway caused traffic disruptions before being cleared by police personnel.
Government Response
- CM A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to remain on high alert, as IMD forecasts rain for the next three days.
- District collectors have been instructed to protect paddy stockpiled at procurement centres and ensure immediate transportation to rice mills.
- Civic authorities have been ordered to prevent waterlogging, address traffic congestion, and restore power outages in Hyderabad.
- GHMC, police, traffic police, HYDRAA, and electricity departments are working in coordination to manage the crisis.
Farmers Demand Action
- Farmers in Thorrur village (Mahabubabad district) accused officials of not lifting their paddy for 25 days, leading to crop damage.
- IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu had earlier promised compensation for farmers affected by unseasonal rains.
- The state government assured that wet paddy would be procured in case of extreme weather events like hailstorms.
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