Farmers all smiles as state gets heavy rain

HYDERABAD: The state experienced the first spell of heavy rain on Wednesday after the southwest monsoon had played truant since the middle of last month. Heavy rains have lashed several parts of the state since last night, cheering up farmers who have been longing for the heavens to open up for them to begin agricultural operations.Rains occurred in most districts of Telangana and coastal Andhra, but eluded Rayalaseema region. Farmers were facing hardships due to dry spells at the beginning of agricultural season. But, the rains due to  upper wind circulation formed over the northern Bay of Bengal brought smiles on the faces of farmers.Though heavy rains wreak havoc, this time it is not to be the case. There was no loss of human life nor damage to structures or property. Only a culvert was washed away at Chindampalle in Kataram mandal in Karimnagar district, inundating the surrounding areas and affecting the vehicular traffic to Bopparam and Pratapgiri. The streams in Manthani and Muttharam are overflowing. Surprisingly, there was not much rainfall either in Srikakulam or Viziangaram or Visakhapatnam district.According to Agriculture officials,  paddy nurseries were raised in 32,839 hectares in Guntur district. In Krishna district paddy nurseries were raised in 9,520 ha against the normal area of 12,750 ha. With the vigorous monsoon, the farmers may complete raising nurseries in the entire area within a couple of days.The meteorological department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains in the state as the upper air circulation is likely to intensify further and form into a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal. “Besides, southwest monsoon is active over Telangana and coastal Andhra regions and,  under its influence, moderate to heavy rain will occur in these places in the next 48 hours,’’ MeT officials said. The upper wind circulation that had formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal lay centred at least 7.6 km above the sea off the Orissa coast, and is likely to intensify into a low pressure over the northwest Bay of Bengal. Heavy rainfall was reported from Suryapet, Warangal and Dubbaka in Telangana and  Narsapur, Kaikalur, Bhimavaram, Amalapuram in coastal Andhra.