Summer rain has destroyed paddy crop in a large extent of paddy fields in the upper Kuttanad areas of Niranom, Kadapra, Peringara and Nedumpram.
Eapen Kurien, Pulikeezhu block panchayat president, said paddy crop in about 150 acres of land had been destroyed in the natural calamity. With hardly two weeks left for harvest, the 90-day-old crop in the Erathode paddy fields in Niranom panchayat had fallen in the untimely heavy wind and rain on Monday.
He said the crop loss had affected as many as 86 farmers who had cultivated the paddy fields of Erathode, using loans from various private financing firms and public sector banks.
Some small-scale farmers had cultivated on leased land too.
Many trees uprooted in the heavy wind and rain, damaging houses. Niranom is the worst-affected area. Assistant Collector Sreeram Venkitaraman visited the areas in Upper Kuttanad on Tuesday.
Mr. Kurien; K.P. Punnose, Niranom grama panchayat president; Kurien Koothrappally, block panchayat member; K.M. Kunjumon, Chiramel Raju, Raju Thompumkal, Rajan Kuzhikkathil, Paadashekhara Samiti leaders, and officials of the Agriculture and Revenue Departments accompanied him.
Mr. Venkitaraman directed the officials to assess the damage and prepare a detailed report for submitting to the government.
