Hyderabad: Heavy rains across Telangana caused severe crop damage in 270 mandals and 2,463 villages, according to a preliminary assessment by the Agriculture Department. Officials confirmed that paddy, cotton, maize, soybean, tomato, red gram and other crops suffered losses on 2,20,443 acres. This large-scale crop damage in Telangana left thousands of farmers distressed.
The department recorded losses on 1,09,626 acres of paddy, 60,080 acres of cotton, 6,751 acres of soybean and 639 acres of horticulture. Farmers from 1,43,304 holdings directly reported flood-related losses.
Agriculture, R&B and power sectors hit
Along with agriculture, several government departments calculated damage worth hundreds of crores. The Panchayat Raj, Agriculture, Roads and Buildings (R&B), Power, Women and Child Welfare, Irrigation and Education departments faced the heaviest impact. Floodwaters washed away roads, toppled electricity poles and damaged transformers. Thousands of families reported water entering their homes, destroying belongings and Anganwadi centres.
The assessment showed that R&B roads on 784 stretches covering 873 km needed repairs. Officials projected Rs 560 crore for permanent works and Rs 53 crore for temporary measures. District authorities in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Sangareddy and Medak submitted road restoration proposals. They also estimated crop compensation at nearly Rs 220 crore, assuming Rs 10,000 per acre.
Meanwhile, the government started preparing a comprehensive report for the Centre to request financial aid. Major crop damage in Telangana occurred in Kamareddy, Medak, Nizamabad, Nirmal, Adilabad, Mulugu, Mancherial, Asifabad and Sircilla. Officials assured that relief and rehabilitation would be taken up on priority.
