Pathanamthitta, Monday, April 25, 2011: The crop loss in the recent wind and summer rain in Pathanamthitta district has been estimated at Rs.5.39 crore, said District Collector S. Raveendran.

Addressing a meeting at the Collectorate Conference Hall on Saturday, the Collector said that paddy crop in an extent of 679 hectares has been lost in the natural calamity.

As per an official assessment, an estimated 8,637 rubber trees and 35,320 plantain trees have been lost, besides extensive damage to tapioca, coconut trees, vegetables and various other agriculture crops.

The Collector said that steps have been taken to provide adequate number of combine harvesters from the neighboring State of Tamil Nadu for paddy harvesting in the Upper Kuttanad villages of Peringara, Niranom, Kadapra, Kuttoor and Niranom.

District Panchayat President Babu George said that the panchayat would provide financial relief of Rs. 20 lakh to farmers who have lost their paddy crop in the summer rain in the Upper Kuttanad area.

(News agency)