Untimely rains break the back of paddy farmers in East Godavari.

Heavy rain lashing the mandal right from the Thursday morning poured cold water on the paddy farmers dreams of reaping a bumper harvest. The rains experienced for four times in the last one week caused extensive damage to the standing paddy crop. Paddy became wet and discoloured. Paddy dried in the drying yard started sprouting. The climate is not even favourable to dry the paddy. The farmer is virtually reduced to tears as his investment at the rate of Rs 30,000 an acre has gone down the drain. The gales destroyed the paddy crop in 1.56 lakh hectares in the mandal. Only 60 per cent of the paddy harvesting has been completed. Vast majority of the paddy harvested has been dried in the drying yards.