Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (KM/RD)
Udupi, Mar 27: The unseasonal rains that lashed the coastal district for the past ten days, caused havoc across the district, said sources in the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) here on Wednesday March 26.
Giving the details of casualties, the sources added that two were killed and 34 houses including a school building have been partially damaged in the incessant rains. One person was killed in lightning near Miyar, in Karkala taluk while a nine-year-old girl was reported missing and feared being washed away by currents in the Sauparnika river. Cattle were also killed when a huge tree fell owing to heavy winds.
The torrential rains have also reportedly damaged seasonal crops all over the district. The worst hit crop was groundnut. As per the sources in the office of the deputy commissioner, crop cultivated on 688.91 hectares was damaged owing to stagnant rain water while the losses were estimated to be around Rs 1.4 crore.
991 cases have been filed and the total loss estimated at Rs 1.02 crore wherein the loss to the agriculture sector was estimated at Rs 1.05 crore. Kota taluk was the worst hit region in the district in terms of damage to crop, with groundnuts cultivated on 745.94 acres being affected.
Kundapur taluk has also suffered a great deal of inconvenience with heavy losses of over Rs 40 lac as paddy and groundnuts grown on 150 acres damaged. Mixed crop of vegetable and flowers was also damaged, sources added.
Ash gourd crop that was grown in neighbouring fields of Brahmavar was also damaged, owing to heavy winds and flood waters. Sources said that nets erected to support ash gourd vines have been flattened owing to rains. Paddy crop was also damaged. All agriculturists of both small large and tiny holdings were put into hardship as all crops were hit. Officials of the horticulture and agriculture have ruled out any kind of apprehension of destruction, but the version put forth by the farmers is contradictory to the version of the officials.
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