Pre-monsoon showers, thunderstorm damage crops, houses in Odisha villages

Kalahandi/Sambalpur:  Pre-monsoon showers and thunderstorm lashed several areas of Kalahandi and Sambalpur on Monday causing heavy damage to paddy crops and houses in the region.

Sources said, heavy rain accompanied by gusty wind destroyed standing paddy crops and also washed away harvested crops of people in many areas of Kalahandi yesterday.

Farmers have said that since the yield was good this year, crop loss due to heavy rain might be higher. This apart, they also alleged that due to absence of adequate space in the mandis, quintals of paddy stacks lying in the open have been destroyed in the rain.

"Heavy rains have caused wide spread damage to our crops. We are facing a tough time due to poor infrastructure of the mandis and blame the government for that," alleged a farmer Santanu Kumar Munda.

Besides, farmers have also alleged that the government has not even collected 25 per cent of paddy during the current Rabi season so far.

Similarly, several thatched and houses with asbestos roofs in Gadaposh of Kuchinda area in Sambalpur have sustained damages due to heavy rain and hailstones. Sources said, Bamra Tehsildar has reached the spot to take stock of the situation.