Bhograi: With paddy crops in Bhograi block of Balasore district having suffered heavily due to Bulbul-induced rain, affected farmers displayed soaked and damaged paddy plants to a Central team that visited various parts of the block Friday.
The three-member team led by Saheli Ghose Ray, the joint secretary of the Union Home Ministry, landed at Thana Chhak in a helicopter and took stock of the situation at Daruha, Mahagaba, Gunasartha, Sianroi and Dahunda panchayat.
At that time, affected farmers showed rotten paddy plants to the central team members. The team members said after the survey of the loss, they will submit a report to the Centre.
Reports said when Bulbul passed through the coast, gale coupled with heavy rains wreaked havoc to paddy in thousands of hectares of land in Jaleswar, Bhograi and Basta blocks in Balasore.
Ripe paddy in thousands of acres has been lying soaked in Rupsa, Anke, Kasipada, Kuradiha, Bahabalpur, Dubulagadi, Chhanua, Sartha, Kasapahla, Srirampur,, ERasalpur, Gadapada, Baharda, Routpada, Mathani and Dudhahansa.
As paddy started rotting, farmers were worried on how to pay off loans that they have taken from banks and private money lenders.
During the visit, Collector K Sudarshan Chakraborty, district emergency officer Abhay Nayak, Bhograi BDO Diptiranjan Sethi, tehsildar Sanat Kumar Nayak were present.