The dreams of farmers taking home a bumper crop this season were shattered by unseasonal rains in the last two days. Crops in nearly three lakh acres were completely inundated in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Khammam, Nellore and parts of Anantapur district as heavy downpour lashed the mandals. Officials said the crop loss could be well over Rs 400 crore.
The farmers, who were in a festive mood ahead of Sankranti, are crestfallen with the sudden rains dampening their spirits. Farmers of paddy, chilli, tobacco, cotton, black gram, maize and groundnut are the worst-hit. Agriculture officers in the rain-hit districts are assessing the situation but the damage to the crop could be estimated only after the rains abate.