Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: Odisha was lucky enough to escape the direct wrath of cyclonic storm Bulbul which made a landfall in West Bengal. However, farmers in coastal districts in the State are now left in lurch as standing paddy crops in several hectares of agricultural lands have reportedly been damaged due to heavy rainfall triggered by the cyclonic storm.

As per preliminary reports, there has been extensive damage to paddy and other standing crops in Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts.

Though the agriculture department had earlier issued advisory for farmers to initiate measures to protect crops in view of heavy rain forecast by India Meteorological Department (IMD), farmers are now staring at a huge loss as the crops which were ready for harvest have been damaged.

“Cyclone Bulbul caused massive damage to crops here. We do not know what to do now as all our hard work has gone into vain,” said a farmer of Chandbali in Bhadrak.

Another farmer from Rajkanika in Kendrapara districts said, “Crops in several acres of farmlands are now submerged in water. As there are no proper channels for the discharge, we are worried.”

Citing preliminary assessment report, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena informed nearly 33 to 40 percent standing crops in five districts have been adversely affected by cyclone Bulbul.

Several teams of agriculture department have also started visiting several blocks to assess the crop damage.

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