The unseasonal rain accompanied by stormy winds left a trail of destruction in the town and elsewhere in the district on Sunday evening.

Sources said that a 50-year -old watchman of a shopping complex died on the spot when an asbestos sheet fell on him on the premises of the bus station in Thallada under the impact of high velocity winds late in the evening.

Asbestos roofs of several roadside shops and tiles of some houses in Khammam, Thallada and other towns were blown off due to the devastation caused by unexpected spell of heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds in the evening.

Several localities in Khammam and its surrounding areas went without power for more than two hours after stormy winds snapped power lines at various places under Khammam municipal corporation limits.

A garage of an automobile firm on the Wyra road reportedly suffered heavy damage after a part of the asbestos roof of the unit fell on the vehicles parked inside the garage, sources said.

Vehicular traffic on the Khammam-Kodad main road was disrupted for sometime after the branches of uprooted trees fell on the roadside blocking the movement of the vehicles late in the evening.

Gales flatten orchards

Nalgonda Staff Reporter adds: Saturday’s night heavy winds shattered the dreams of banana farmer Bodhanam Bheemarjuna Reddy, who was ready to harvest 2,000 banana plants.

According to Horticulture Officer P. Ananta Reddy, only five to six farmers are cultivating the crop in the district. Mr. Reddy further said Mr. Bheemarjuna Reddy had successfully harvested one crop after taking up cultivation in 2015, and he was all set to harvest the crop in 15 days.

Mr. Ananta Reddy said the farmer was a model for many in banana cultivation. “We suggested many farmers to visit his farm to draw inspiration for taking up profitable alternative cultivation, he said. However, the gales caused extensive damage to his banana orchard as over 2,000 plants out of 4,000 plants fell down within a couple of hours. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Bheemarjun Reddy, a native of Cherla Gouraram village of Kangal mandal, said that he got his investment back after harvesting the crop six months ago.

“I was expecting huge profit this time but the heavy winds have shattered my dreams,” he said. He urged the State Government to pay compensation to him after enumeration of crop loss.

Apart from Mr. Reddy’s crop, lemon, sweet lemon orchards and other horticulture crops were also damaged due to the gales.

Source - http://www.thehindu.com