Severe cyclonic storm, Hudhud that had hit coastal city of Visakhapatnam on Sunday had triggered massive rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. As a result, the country rain deficit has declined to 48% against 60% on October 13.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the country recorded 17.6 mm of rainfall against the normal of 43.6 mm till October 12, the day cyclone had hit the coast. While a day later on October 13, total amount of rainfall recorded was 24.1 mm against the normal of 46 mm.
The southern peninsular region is already experiencing Northeast Monsoon and cyclone Hudhud has aggressively added to the amount of the rain. However, rains were only confined to northern parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha.
While the other pockets under this region did not observe any significant rainfall due to this cyclone. The southern peninsular region includes Coastal Andhra Pradesh, South Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Rayalseema and Tamil Nadu.
The major districts affected in the coastal Andhra Pradesh during the cyclone were Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, East Godavari and West Godavari. As on October 13, several cities across these districts such as Gantyada recorded 383 mm of rain, Srungavarapukota 340 mm, Nellimarla 243.4 mm and Gajapathinagaram 222 mm to name a few.
While, major affected districts in Odisha were Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Ganjam where R. Udayagiri witnessed 260 mm of rainfall on October 13, Pottangi 240 mm, Mahendragarh 230 mm and Malkangiri 180 mm.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, these two states are no more under the threat of heavy rainfall as Hudhud, which has now gained the status of depression, has moved to Chhattisgarh and towards to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
Crops affected
The cyclone Hudhud has left trail of devastation in these coastal areas, particularly the standing crop, which were ready to harvest, have been completely destroyed. As per the reports by The Times of India, banana crop on 1,050 hectares, papaya on 142 hectares, coconut on 4,500 hectares, mango on 7,550 hectares, vegetables on 4,500 hectares and horticulture crops on 12,500 hectares were destroyed by Hudhud.
In order to compensate the massive loss Andhra Pradesh government has increased the input subsidy for paddy, groundnut, cotton, sugarcane, chillies, vegetables, onion, flowers, papaya and watermelon from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per hectare. While, farmers cultivating pulses, sunflower, soyabean, wheat, ajwain and linseed will get Rs 10,000 per hectare as against Rs 6,250. The changed subsidy is in effect from October 12.
For maize, the input subsidy has been raised to Rs 12,500 from Rs 8,333. Farmers who lost mango, citrus, cashewnut, sapota, guava, pomegranate, etc., are to get Rs 20,000 instead of Rs 15,000 per hectare. While, compensation for each coconut tree lost has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, as reported by national daily.
