The recent onslaught of Cyclone Montha has brought devastation to the Godavari delta region of Andhra Pradesh, with fierce winds and torrential rains wreaking havoc on agricultural lands. A staggering 1.2 lakh acres of paddy crop have been utterly destroyed, much of which was on the verge of harvest. This extensive damage not only signifies a massive loss of yield but also raises concerns about the discolouration and quality degradation of the surviving grain.
In West Godavari district, agricultural officials, including District Agriculture Officer Z. Venkateswara Rao, reported that over 26,000 acres of paddy were submerged and ruined. Responding swiftly to the crisis, West Godavari District Collector Ch. Nagarani initiated a paddy procurement drive on Thursday, October 30, offering some relief to affected farmers.
Further impacting the region, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar confirmed in an official statement that over 31,000 acres of paddy crop in his district suffered significant damage. Officials are working diligently to complete the full enumeration of crop losses by Friday.
Kakinada district also bore the brunt of the cyclone, with more than 45,000 acres of standing paddy crop being destroyed. The situation was compounded by heavy inflows into the Yeleru irrigation system, which exacerbated the flooding and added to the farmers’ woes.
Beyond agriculture, the cyclone also inflicted substantial damage on public infrastructure. Authorities are currently assessing the extent of damage to road networks and other essential facilities. In Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema District alone, 37 school buildings have sustained partial damage. Adding to the widespread destruction, over 1200 acres of aquaponds in West Godavari were inundated after the Nalli creek near Narsapuram breached its banks.